Help 500 Guatemalan Children Receive an Education

The movement El Patojismo began with the school Los Patojos. While our students are in isolation at home, we have not stopped.

Dreams and Ideas in Action

Guatemala has 19,011 active cases. Our Community, Jocotenango, has 68 active cases.

El Patojismo is the campaign to change the future for children in Guatemala. The school, Los Patojos, Dreams & Ideas in Action, along with all schools in Guatemala was closed in March. But we have stayed with our students. They are still studying through on-line learning with their teachers and as well with homework packets.

While our case numbers are low, so is testing. The actual number of cases would be much higher but most people cannot afford the testing. It is a very dangerous situation as we only have 8 hospitals in the country to serve 14 million people.

We are encouraging our families and the community to stay at home wherever possible, but if they need to go out they must wear a mask at all times.

Education Program - From School to Home

Our 400 Students at El Patojismo have done very well at adapting to doing their work at home and the parents have been exceptional at helping their children. We are using simple exercises that keep their minds active with inexpensive, common materials that they can find. Such activities include planting and caring for vegetables, doing physical exercises with the physical education teacher, and practicing English on line in conversations.

2020 Our Fist Group of 23 Graduates in career:

Tourism and Hotel Administration

Our first students will graduate from our Diversificado ( equal to Grade 11 ) this fall. Prior to the lock down we were working with these students to guide them for their futures. We included in their school experience working at jobs in the community where they could get on-the-job training as well as experience what it is like to get a job and be a responsible employee. We will continue the program as soon as the lock down is over. These students will have to work at a job during the day and go to University part time as they cannot afford the fees.

Food Program

Over 113, 898 meals served during 14 years.

While the lockdown in Guatemala was necessary to prevent as many cases of Covid-19 as possible, it brought very severe consequences for our families and others in our community. The parents of our students earn their income in the informal economy – selling chiclets in the park, shining shoes, picking coffee etc. These jobs are very low paying and disappeared completely, meaning there was no money for food. We immediately put our time and resources into gathering food and funding to make sure our students, their families and other vulnerable people in our community were not starving. The staff have been with us every bit of the way – gathering, preparing and delivering food to those in need.

#PaquetesDignos

1,060 Food Packages delivered and 6,890 people benefited. What is in a food package? Milk-Cereal-Sugar-Oats-Rice-Beans-Eggs-Pasta-Oil-Salt-Flour for Tortillas-Nutritional Drinks-Salt-Vegetables-Fruits-Toilet Paper-Sanitary Towels-Coffee-Soups

Muchas Gracias Juan Pablo and the El Patolismo Team - #CHANGEMAKERS

We are continuing to work hard to give hundreds of children an opportunity to change their lives. Jose is an example of our success. Jose suffers from Cerebral Palsy. The public school system in our town had no ability to admit him as there was no wheelchair access.

Private schools would not allow Jose to attend their schools unless he had a full time private assistant paid for by his mother. This of course was not possible for her financially. So, 2 ½ years ago Jose’s mother asked if he could attend our school, we of course welcomed him. His mother comes with him each day and stays with him to help him advance in any way he can.

When Jose first came to Los Patojos he was nervous and afraid. Now he is comfortable, happy and advancing. He is included in sports activities which his classmates help him with, he is learning how to write and draw and is learning how to communicate which he had not been able to do.

Jose’s mother is very happy as well. She can see he is reaching new goals, he feels safe with the other students. His mother says the compassion shown by the students and teachers has changed Jose’s life forever.

Jose has changed the lives of our students as well. They are learning to respect and help those with disabilities. We are proud to be a compassionate, inclusive school.

Thank you to each and every donor that has assisted us to continue our work with hundreds of children.

Muchas Gracias Juan Pablo and the team at Los Patojos