Centro Escolar Urbanización Montelimar

Olocuilta, El Salvador

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School details

Student population

536

Grades

Kindergarten to ninth grade

Year founded

2003

About the school’s needs

The community of Montelimar, on the route between Olocuilta and San Salvador, was once known as a center of illicit activities and violence. The situation has improved in recent years, but associations with past crime still linger.

The result is a stigma that hinders the community. Another challenge is the impact of COVID-19, the fear of which has impeded community organization. Additionally, because of the absence of parents, many young people are cared for by relatives and neighbors, affecting their emotional well-being.

Efforts are underway to address these issues and foster a more supportive environment. Critical to those efforts is education. As Glenda Rebeca Sandoval Orellana, the director of Centro Escolar Urbanización Montelimar, says, “These situations reveal the need to strengthen this space and transform it into a safe place, where the student community can dream and build the knowledge to achieve their goals.”

Your sponsorship will help make that possible. Some of the school’s most pressing needs are seven new classrooms, a full-time psychology professional, and playground equipment so young students can learn in a fun, engaging environment.

Help give the children of Centro Escolar Urbanización Montelimar the future they deserve.

Start sponsoring this school today

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What your sponsorship does at this school

A full-time psychology professional to provide psychosocial support to the teaching and student communities
Vocational workshops for the student community
Materials and labor for the construction of seven classrooms, including the computer room
Furniture for the upkeep of all classrooms
Playground equipment for the kindergarten area
Extracurricular programs: English, Robotics, Storytelling, Leadership, Sports, Glee, and Chess

Photos of the school

Meet the students

Carlos

“I’m Carlos, and I’m 16. For fun, I like listening to music and playing sports.

My dream is to graduate, attend university, and build a successful career in engineering.

In my community, I see many economic and family issues, as well as a lack of motivation among young people. I envision a space free from stigma, where we feel comfortable and safe.

I dream of having proper sports facilities, a well-equipped library where we can expand our knowledge, and access to tools based on new technologies, so we can develop our skills.”

—Carlos, 16

Belqui

“I’m Belqui. I’m 17 years old. My main goal is to graduate from high school and study Business Administration in college, because I really like math.

Beyond academics, I like music, dancing, rollerblading, and participating in clubs through the Glasswing Community Schools program.

I know that a lot of kids have lost their motivation because of economic problems at home, so they leave school to find work and help out their families. Also, the fear of being stigmatized as a dangerous community persists. I believe that organizing as a community could be a solution to confront these challenges.

I think a starting point to motivate kids to return to school could be to improve the facilities. That could include transforming classrooms that have metal sheets into comfortable spaces, installing a cistern, adding a roof to the sports court, and building a cafeteria.”

—Belqui, 17

Meet the director

“My name is Glenda, and I am the director of the Centro Escolar Urbanización Montelimar.

I am proud to be part of this educational community. However, I know there is still much to be done for our school to be a completely safe space and part of the identity of the whole community.

Currently, we welcome many young people who do not have someone in their family unit who can ensure their well-being and academic progress. In addition, we are a community that still faces stigmas caused by crime.

These situations reveal the need to strengthen this space and transform it into a safe place, where the student community can dream and build the knowledge to achieve their goals.

For me, the school should be a space where children and youth can find people who are not only facilitators, but also role models. Therefore, I dream of having more tools for teachers—such as computer equipment and adequate facilities to teach classes—so they can realize their roles with excellence. That is especially the case in kindergarten, as the littlest ones are our future.”

—Director Glenda Rebeca Sandoval Orellana

Hear from the school community

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Every child has the right to learn and the potential to thrive. Help these students unlock their potential.

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