Student Sponsorship
Pura Vida is arranging scholarships for children in rural Guatemala desiring to continue their education but are unable to for financial reasons. We are currently sponsoring children in all grades of elementary, middle, and high school. Schooling is just not affordable for most rural village residents. There are some really bright kids who just won't have the chance to go to school.
Guatemala provides free public education through sixth grade. But in rural areas such as Lemoa, children average less than two years in school; parents would rather have their children work in the fields or in the home. Girls especially are not encouraged to go to school. Also compounding the issue is the fact that most children in rural areas converse primarily in their indigenous language, and Spanish only in school. These factors have contributed to a literacy rate of much less than 50% among the indigenous population.