News from GRACES
Follow us to stay updated about the school, students and families we serve in Guatemala.
For media inquiries and related requests, please contact our Director of Communications.
We believe in English language instruction
Hello! English Club launches to support second language program at Escuela Integrada Over a three-year period, 48,000 jobs went unfilled in Guatemala because they required the ability to speak English (2017-2020).¹ Jobs in the formal workforce increasingly require English proficiency to support Guatemala’s biggest industries, such as tourism, manufacturing and tourism. “For expanding businesses, young graduates, scientists and researchers, and international tourists, English proficiency broadens horizons, reduces barriers, and accelerates…
By the numbers
In 2024, we welcomed more than 120 visitors to the school, celebrated the graduation of all of our 9th grade students and provided 243 food bags for families. Our partnerships with Escuela Integrada, Ahava and Academia de Lideres Futuros continued to grow, and the number of students we were able to collectively serve increased. Our work is only made possible through the financial support we receive from donations, sponsorships, grants,…
Back to school in Guatemala!
Happy New (School) Year! School started this week for Escuela Integrada! On Monday, we welcomed 160 students at Escuela Integrada for a brand new school year. Twenty three of these students are brand new to our school. In Guatemala, schools begin in January and end in October. Instead of being off in June and July like many U.S. schools, Guatemalan schools have November and December off. As we kick off…
The countdown is on! Hours left to provide breakfast, lunch and food bags for Escuela Integrada
The clock is ticking on GRACES’ year-end campaign—at press time, we just passed the $25,000 mark. Thank you to everyone who has donated so far! Did you know that donations received on December 31 far outpace all other single-day giving the rest of the year?! Your donation today makes a big difference for GRACES’ Year-End campaign. All funds donated by 11:59 p.m. local time go directly to GRACES’ Meal Support…
I made an unspoken promise that we would always serve breakfast
Years ago I was attending a home visit with our psychologist, Lily. Periodically Lily will visit families’ homes, and I love being able to go with her. During this time, we had just started serving breakfast at Escuela Integrada. I have probably been on hundreds of home visits over the past 15 years, and there are some home visits that I never forget. As I walked into the home, I…
The impact of food insecurity on education is significant
“In reality, it is a big help because sometimes times are tough, and it is really hard to even buy sugar,” said Lisbeth, a parent of a student at Escuela Integrada. For the families at Escuela Integrada, vacation months are not packed full with adventurous travel or meals in restaurants. Instead, it’s quite the opposite. It can be an incredibly stressful time for families who try to get by on…