Maria De Mattias Education Institute, Guatemala, 25 years

The Maria De Mattias Education Institute

Aldea Labor Vieja, Guatemala

The Early Days

The Maria De Mattias Education Institue is a high school institution

located in a rural area of Guatemala. The Institute celebrated its 25th

anniversary in May, 2013, having grown from 23 students and 3

teachers in 1989, to 400 students from fourteen communities and 14

staff members, eight of whom are graduates!

A town committee was formed in 1988 to look in to the possibility of establishing a cooperative High School. Young people from the area had no real possibilities of continuing their studies after 6th grade because of the distance they would need to travel or the economic strain it would place on the family.

The school began to operate in 1989 with one classroom, first year Basico of a three year program, in the town hall.

Meanwhile, a donation from the Adorers of the Blood of Christ, a religious congregation of Catholic Sisters, made it possible to buy land for the future site of the Institute.

Students brought in building materials and helped clear the land and dig the ditches.

1991

We began the new adventure of being in our own buildings, on our own land, with 3 classrooms built and

the probability of more on the horizon.

Kids were delighted to have an individual

desk.

First a basketball court, and then a roof!

1993

From 1 computer, to old, old computers, to a real computer lab!

1999 2009

From 120 books to a real library! And still improving.

2008 2012

SO WHO ARE WE REALLY?

It’s all about the kids

We work with youth ages 11-20 but also with primary students from local grade schools who are faithful library patrons.

This is who we say we are

• An institution committed to transforming the reality of our communities.

• Connecting and collaborating with other education centers of

this sector.

• Walking with and alongside the youth as we offer a global

education/perspective

• Involving families in the formation of young women and men who are capable of confronting their reality, analyzing it and

acting in accord with Christian values.

Parent involvement is key. Continuing education for parents is a priority.

25 years strong 2013

25 th Anniversary Celebration

We are most proud… 92% of our graduates continue their studies. (the national

average is 29%) 8 of our current staff are graduates of the Institute In each of the last 3 years, some of our graduates have won

full scholarships to the prestigious American school in Guatemala City (only 25 are awarded annually)

While the majority of our students are from poor situations, 100% participate in quarterly food drives for the most needy families from the local communities.

Students are aware of unjust realities in the country and look for ways to actively support non-violent resistance efforts.

THANK YOU, from our staff

Thank you Friends, Volunteers, Donors...

You left your mark on us!

We hope we touched you as well.

How blessed we are by the connection we have to you.

Dad, Anastasia, Meg, Eric, Mary Simpson, Joan M., Paul Aumen, Bob,

And you who have gone before us are still present to us. Thank You, for knowing you has been a privilege.

THANKS FOR YOUR GIVING SPIRITS

I have been blessed to call Guatemala home for the past 25 years. The school and growth of all the programs could not have happened without your care and committed interest. As I reflect on the slide show I’m a bit overwhelmed. I always meant to write a book, but maybe this is the living story. I’m glad you are a part of it.-Sister Kris Schrader, ASC

For more information about the school or the work we do here in Guatemala

E- mail: krisschrader@hotmail.com

Facebook: Kris Schrader

U.S. address 4233 Sulphur Ave. St.Louis, MO 63109

Our congregation web site: www.adorers.org