Escuela Oficial Urbana para Niñas No. 44 Juan de Francisco Martí

Guatemala City, Guatemala

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School details

Population

294 students

Grades

Kindergarten, pre-primary and elementary school

Year founded

1946

About the school’s needs

The community of the capital’s Zona Ocho is facing worrying situations due to the daily violence experienced by residents. This includes frequent robberies and heavy rains that have prevented residents from carrying out their daily activities.

The lack of employment among parents is also of great concern, as this has led to many children working from a very young age to contribute financially to their families. This limits their opportunities to complete their schoolwork and adequately develop their academic abilities.

In addition, this community faces drinking water and electricity shortages, unstable family situations and lack of transportation. This forces thousands of residents to travel on foot through the streets, which then exposes them to greater vulnerabilities.

Help give the children of the Escuela Oficial Urbana para Niñas No. 44 Juan de Francisco Martí the future they deserve.

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What your sponsorship does at this school

Pedagogical counselor
Training workshops with familiar themes for teachers, students and parents
School nurse
Terrace and construction of a library space
Renovation of the multipurpose room’s roof

Photos of the school

Meet the students

Kimberly

“Hi, I’m Kimberly. I’m 12 years old, and my biggest aspiration is to graduate with a degree in agronomy. I love to study, go running with my little brothers and sisters, and read science books. I have realized that many children and young people in my community face difficulties in continuing to study and achieve their dreams, especially because they started working at a very young age. Many of them work in markets, mechanic shops, stores or carrying heavy objects, all to help their families.

This situation prevents them from dedicating time to study, which I think is wrong. I would love for them to be able to stop working and have better opportunities to build a better future.

I have a lot of appreciation for my school, but I think it would be wonderful to see it better painted and with a new roof over the classrooms. Also, I would like to see games for the high school girls and for us to paint the tables in the courtyard.”

—Kimberly, 12

Beverly

“Hi, my name is Beverly. I am 12 years old. My dream is to become a doctor. I really enjoy listening to music, reviewing the materials we learn in school and helping in the lunchroom with my mom. However, I have noticed that many young people in my community do not have the same opportunities. Some are unable to study because they work to help at home, while others are influenced by the drinking of alcoholic beverages that they see in the places where they work.

I hope that stores will implement better control over who they sell alcoholic beverages to so that young people do not fall into bad habits and do not miss opportunities to study for a better professional future.

I would like my school to have more garbage cans to keep it clean and facilitate recycling, as well as more games for the little girls in kindergarten and pre-school.”

—Beverly, 12

Meet the principal

“I am Gilda, principal of Escuela Oficial Urbana para Niñas No. 44 Juan de Francisco Martín. In our institution, we strive to instill high values in our students and make them examples for their families. We firmly believe in the right of all girls to receive an education, starting from the age of four.

One of our biggest challenges is for families to foster independence in their girls despite their young age. Many girls start working at an early age alongside their parents to support them financially, neglecting their studies and putting their professional future at risk.

Despite these challenges, our school strives to be a space for development and entrepreneurship in these formative years for the girls, offering a refuge where they experience human warmth in each educational stage.

We face difficulties in implementing positive changes due to violence, illness, climate and economic constraints, but we continue to be a valuable educational center, a place where faith in God, teamwork and commitment to values are fundamental.”

—Principal Gilda