The majority of the children sponsored through WorldShare’s ChildAid scheme study at America Latina’s school in the town of Chimaltenango, which sits on the Pan-American highway, an hour's drive to the west of Guatemala City.
It is a fun and active school: both the band and girl’s basketball team were state champions for four consecutive years. All grades have their own camp, while Bible classes, pastoral counselling and chapel services all enrich the daily lives of students.
The schools run by America Latina are private, fee-paying schools. WorldShare’s ChildAid scheme enables children from poor families and children in care to access high quality education.
State schools do exist in Guatemala, but are hopelessly under-resourced and frequently not well regarded.
Mayan women farming maize, senior citizens, young coffee plantation workers and so on, are able to graduate from high school through their participation in these courses. Nearly 20 regional tutoring centres scattered throughout Guatemala provide support for distance learning students.
NEW Watch slideshow with music (Youtube) about AL's distance learning programme
A major national bakery chain allows its employees study leave in order to complete their education.
