From April 18th through the 25th, the local Child Aid team hosted a group of US education and development professionals, Board members, and staff. Participants were able to experience the innovative literacy programs while being immersed in the communities, cultures and history of Guatemala.
A powerful introduction
This title is true in two ways; the visit started with a formal welcome from our Guatemala CEO Graciela Landa Pichiyá, and was quickly followed by a presentation on Guatemalan history from James Rodriguez, a renowned photojournalist.
Rodriguez documented over twenty years of the 36-year armed conflict in Guatemala. His presentation was both brilliant and sobering, as it drove home that over 200,000 people, primarily from the Mayan population, were killed by government forces and rebels, often buried in mass graves. He finished his talk with insights on the challenges and opportunities that have emerged since the 1996 Peace Agreements.
Chimaltenango
On Monday, the group travelled to Chimaltenango, where they they visited a school just starting the three year program. They were welcomed into the classrooms enthusiastically by teachers and students, and given their first opportunity to feel what it is like to be in a Child Aid classroom.
We got called to the office
The second stop of the day was in the town of San Antonio Apolonia, where the group met with the District Superintendent who spoke about the challenges that public schools face, and the interventions that Child Aid provides. Our group asked questions and gained valuable insight into the impact that Child Aid’s program has in these schools.
The visit to Iximché
Upon leaving the schools, the group travelled out to the Iximché ruins with Jorge (a Child Aid trainer and history buff). Iximché means “Place of the Maize/Ramon tree” and is the remnants of a well-planned urban center, and is thought to have been the capital of the Kaqchikel Maya from roughly 1250 to 1525. Our group explored the ruins and chatted with other visitors, providing a cultural and significant end to the day in Chimaltenango.
Sololá
For Day 3 our group was back in class, this time in the Department of Sololá. They were able to witness first hand how teachers engage with students, bringing learning to life. Child Aid trainers met the group in Santa Lucia and talked about how they work with teachers both through formal workshops, as well as in one-on-one coaching sessions.
Recess!
GETTING TO KNOW THE COMMUNITY WITH A HOME VISIT
The group was welcomed into the home of one of the students. They accompanied her on her walk home before meeting her family.
At her house the group learned that several of the men in their family had immigrated to the United States, where they work to send home money for the family. This arrangement had allowed the family to build their multi-generational home. The women also use a communal loom and sewing machine to make textiles that can be sold locally to tourists and local community members.
Girls club visit
One of the newer additions to the Child Aid program is our girls clubs. What started as a pilot program in 2023 is now an immensely popular after school program run in many Child Aid communities (we say communities because as of 2026, we are expanding beyond the classroom, inviting interested members of the community to join in addition to Child Aid students!).
Participants in the club receive a copy of a book written by a girl or woman telling an inspiring story. These books are chosen by the Child Aid team to help these girls find their voice, their confidence and the power in being their authentic selves.
The group would visit several girls clubs over the course of the trip (keep reading…) and each time, they came away awed at the energy and excitement they saw.
Culture connection
The following day was spent at the Panajachel Child Aid offices where staff and the extended Child Aid community treated our visitors to a wide variety of cultural activities, all of which were designed to give the group an understanding of history and modern life in rural Guatemala.
Santiago atitlán
After a breathtaking ride across Lake Atitlán, the group visited a school nearing the end of the Child Aid program. This school was in its third year of the program, and the teachers had incorporated a wide array of techniques to keep the students engaged in the learning process. It was great to see how alive these classrooms were – the energy put a smile on every face.
The final day
As they say, all good things eventually come to an end, and this trip was no exception. The final day proved to be one to remember. On this day the group travelled to Totonicapán, the third and final region that Child Aid currently works in.
Here the group was invited to join another Girls Club, this one was reading Colibri by Ann Cameron, a powerful story of a young Mayan girl’s perseverance after being kidnapped. It is a moving story and has led to many honest conversations about finding your voice and inner strength.
And finally, when it came time to say goodbye, the regional team in Totonicapán held a farewell fiesta for our group. Staff led our visitors through making tamales – ensuring the wrap was just right, while community members prepared a traditional shared meal. It was an afternoon of connection and reflection as the group prepared to make their way back to Guatemala City for their return flights.
It was a great trip and we can’t wait for the next one. Would you like to join us? We would love to have you!
If you are interested in joining a future trip to Guatemala, please reach out to us at info@child-aid.org. Be sure to join our newsletter – it is how we get the news about about future trips and other exciting program developments.
