Send a Child to School in Guatemala

Help a child in Guatemala attend school and work towards a better future.

Guatemala has one of the highest poverty rates in Latin America, with more than 75% of the population living below the poverty line. In rural and indigenous populations, that figure is up to 93%. Although education is one of the best ways to break the cycle of poverty, few families are able to afford to send their children to school.

Fundación Tradiciones Mayas (FTM) has worked since 1992 with women artisans and their families in remote, rural Guatemala. FTM promotes and preserves the ancient art of back strap weaving with 85 artisans in six cooperative groups, and has a long term commitment to the artisans and their children, including access to health care, business development for the artisans, and scholarships for their children.

FTM is supporting a total of 125 students with scholarships. The students are from the six communities where FTM artisans reside: Chuacruz, Chirijox, San Juan La Laguna, Santa Clara La Laguna, Patanatic and Solola.

For just $75, you can cover a year of primary education (including school fees, transportation, and supplies), a month of education at the junior high level, or helping subsidize the expense of a year of senior high school.

Report from the Field
June 2016

Meet Ana Maria, one of the hundreds of scholarship recipients of FTM's programs. She is grateful for the scholarship that has supported her educational pursuit—an opportunity that she recognizes not all children are fortunate enough to have. Ana Maria shares:

"Going to school has helped me very much in my life. I have learned about many new things. Education teaches the younger generation the importance of respect. Today, many children in Guatemala are discriminated against, poorly supported by their parents, and with little opportunities. For these reasons, there exist high leves of unemployment, robbery, and murder in Guatemala. I have seen the power first-hand of education and am grateful that my mother and Maya Traditions have supported me."

Ana Maria is now in middle school and wants to positively impact her community when she grows up. We are grateful to help support children like Ana Maria, and wouldn't be able to do it without your help!

Fundación Tradiciones Mayas (FTM) works with women artisans and their families in economically poor and culturally intact communities in the Western Highlands of Guatemala. Committed to promoting and preserving the ancient art of back strap weaving, FTM also strives to offer economic support to all school-aged children of the artisans with the goal that they become thoughtful, analytical and creative community leaders.