News from GRACES

Microbus campaign surpasses expectations, raises more than $53k for new bus We made it to Cerro de la Cruz! Our microbus completed its symbolic journey from the school, to the market, the Central Park, the Santa Catalina Arch, and Cerro de la Cruz, marking the end of the fundraising campaign to purchase a new bus! With your support, we raised more than $53,000, which will allow us to purchase a…

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the families of Escuela Integrada was significant. In a normal year, the families we serve experience moderate to severe food insecurity. The pandemic exacerbated the situation, and many families were forced to raise a white flag indicating that they were desperate and worried about starving to death. “Those were very difficult times,” said Lesbia, a mother who had a son at Escuela Integrada…

Climbing in and out of microbuses is memorable for anyone who has been on a Vision Trip. Did you get the bus with air conditioning? A window seat? Have to climb over people or food bags? Have one of the kids from Escuela Integrada sitting right next to you giving directions to their house? We depend on the microbuses for so many things, and especially during Vision Trip season. Everything…

GRACES needs a new microbus! If you’ve been to Guatemala on a Vision Trip, you’ve probably been a passenger on a microbus, either on the gray one or blue one, which we lovingly call “Marta.” The buses carry groups up steep mountain drives to visit families, across Antigua’s cobblestone streets for cultural activities, and back and forth to Chimaltenango to purchase supplies before each Vision Trip arrives. We also use…

On Tuesday, Guatemala experienced two major earthquakes in the departments of Sacatepequez and Escuintla. Both epicenters were outside of Antigua, but the earthquakes and aftershocks could be felt in Antigua and the surrounding villages. The aftershocks continued for several days and, though much less intense and less often, are still occurring as part of what is being called a “seismic swarm.” Santa Maria de Jesus in Sacatepequez sustained the most…

Can you believe we’re almost halfway through the school year in Guatemala?! Students, staff and teachers will be on their midyear break June 23-30, with two quarters down and two more to go when they return. In the time since school began on January 13, the students at Escuela Integrada received 665 hours of academic instruction, and 76 hours of English classes outside of the normal school day. The majority…