Ativos Tour Operator

I recently visited the the school managed by Judy Kerschner in Santa Maria de Jesus, a few minutes away from Antigua Guatemala and was surprised to find such a great project. Here a few picture I want to share with you:

New Life School

This is an extract form the NGOs Blog:

“NEW LIFE SCHOOL was established for children who can’t gain an education in the overcrowded Guatemalan school system. Some of the children have severe hearing or vision deficits, learning disabilities, spina bifida, cerebral palsy Down syndrome, or attention disorders.

In January 2000 our school, NUEVA VIDA, was founded after learning that those with different abilities were not allowed into public schools. It started in one room with one Guatemalan teacher and eight students. Three of those students had spina bifida, the others with muscular dystrophy, autism, Down syndrome, mental retardation and dwarfism. They were all studying on a kindergarten or first grade level.

New Life has always been a licensed primary school and now has grades pre-kinder through sixth. The children are out in the street headed to school instead of hidden in their homes. Some reasons for they’re impaired learning are the ridicule of other students, severe hearing or vision deficits, learning disabilities, or attention disorders. In NEW LIFE SCHOOL they are placed in classes of not more than ten students per teacher, some classes as few as four. There are two kindergartens and three first grades due to their varied abilities. Any child who cannot gain an education in public school may attend New Life. Most graduates of sixth grade are continuing to study.”

Visit New Life Schools Blog