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.
Give a kid your lunch!
The children who attend Escuela Integrada are hungry. They live in impoverished homes where food is often scarce or not even available. It is hard to learn when you are hungry. A child with an undernourished brain is more likely to be lethargic and cannot easily process information. They may become moody or unable to focus and are generally unable to learn on an empty stomach. Without adequate food, children…
Class of 2017: First in school’s history to have all students pass, graduate together
Escuela Integrada’s 9th grade class received their diplomas on Thursday, Nov. 9, at Hotel Real Plaza in Antigua. This is the first year in the history of the school that all of the students in the class passed their grade and graduated. In previous years, at least one or two students did not pass. “This is a group of kids who have achieved an important goal in their life as…
The end of a decade, a return to Guatemala, and the meaning behind my new tattoo
The stove smoke pierced my lungs at first breath outside the airport, the air heavy with pollution and the struggle to survive on what little resources exist. I found my name on a sign, held by Sergio, and he walked me to the small car of his cousin. Sitting in that car as we pulled away from the airport, I was uneasy. I was in another country — a country my uncle…
Home visits provide new perspective for mother, son who won trip at Quetzal Gala
Elizabeth Cole and her son, Taylor Steele, came to Guatemala for the first time the week of November 5. Cole’s bid won the all-expenses paid trip at the Quetzal Gala earlier this year. She hails from Salisbury, North Carolina, and elected to bring her 29-year-old son to experience the trip with her. Together, they participated in Escuela Integrada’s first Vision Trip, along with five other attendees. The purpose of the…
‘Status of the School’ update shows higher achievement rates, stronger management of instruction
Video: On Wednesday, Nov. 8, Escuela Integrada celebrated graduations for first and sixth grade. After diplomas were awarded, first grade students released balloons into the sky, each one carrying a small piece of paper with their dreams and wishes for the future. On Tuesday, Nov. 7, Bradler Santos, principal, and Hernan Garcia, project director, presented a “Status of the School” update and identified areas of need at the annual Supporters…
Celebrations, fellowship and future plans kick off annual Supporters Gathering in Antigua
The Quetzal Gala, Fiesta Guatemala, increased social media presence and new partnerships are just a few of the successes board members and supporters celebrated on the first day of the annual Supporters Gathering. Concurrently, a group of seven potential supporters visited Escuela Integrada to meet the teachers and staff as part of a vision trip. This is the first year the Supporters Gathering includes two tracks—vision and planning— designed to…