In Guatemala, only 74.5% of the population age 15 and older is literate—the lowest literacy rate in Central America. Additionally, Guatemala’s spending on education is among the lowest in the world and is significantly underfunded. Many classrooms do not meet minimum standards for classroom space, teaching materials, classroom equipment and furniture, and water or sanitation.

With more than half the population of Guatemalans living below the poverty line, school-aged children struggle to afford the cost of uniforms, books, supplies, and transportation — none of which are supplied by the government. Poverty is the main deterrent to schooling in Guatemala.

This summer, HXP Builders will be traveling to Quetzaltenango to help educational needs of a local school. The community school only has 2 classrooms for 162 students. They desperately need new classrooms to accommodate students in smaller class sizes. 

In 2023, HXP Builders will construct two more classrooms to cut the number of students in each class in half. Cutting classroom size in half will allow teachers to spend more time with individual students, helping them to progress in their education. This is vital in breaking the cycle of poverty, as educated Guatemalans make 80% more money every year.  These extra classrooms will also be used for parent-teacher conferences, school assemblies, and other extracurricular activities. 

Source: USAID, CDC, World Bank 2013