Ixcán School

In early 2003, Common Hope was invited to work with a small junior high school in the Ixcán jungle, one of the poorest regions of Guatemala. It is also very remote—only accessible by foot or mule. 

Kathy Snider, a long-time friend of Common Hope and a frequent visitor to Familias de Esperanza, had decided to return to the United States after five years of dedicated service to and collaboration with the people of Santiago, Ixcán. She wanted to entrust the educational portion of her work and mission to Common Hope.  In November 2003, our partnership became official.

Ixcán Junior High School

The school, though far from Antigua, is remarkably similar to Common Hope in its focus on bettering education and empowering communities to direct their own development. The people have no electricity or running water, but dream of providing their children with something more than a primary school education.

The small junior high school, with its solar-powered computers, has grown from 60 students last year to 81 this year. Its students come from seven communities and four different ethnic groups, and speak six different languages.  Many travel an hour and a half each way by foot or mule to attend the school.  Their families sacrifice dearly to come up with the $30 annual tuition requested by the volunteer administrative committee.

The school’s administrative committee is made up of four dedicated fathers from the community who collaborate with two Common Hope managers to effectively operate and fund the school. Someday, they hope to add a high school to their community.

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