GUATEMALA CITY GIRLSTOWN – GUATEMALA

OUR PROGRAMS IN GUATEMALA

The Sisters of Mary officially started operations in Guatemala in 1997.

In 1996, His Excellency Most Reverend Prospero Penados, Archbishop of Guatemala City, and Guatemalan President, Alvaro Arzu, invited the Sisters of Mary to establish a charity program similar to the one they had heard about in Mexico.

In 1997, the Sisters opened a medical and dental clinic in Guatemala City, Zone 13. The facilities are equipped with X-ray machines and laboratory apparatus in order to serve those with no means to seek medical care elsewhere. Consultation, laboratory tests, and medications are given totally free of charge, though most patients contribute a small, symbolic fee.

On the same site, in 1998, the Sisters accepted the first group of students — boys and girls — at the newly constructed Children’s Village. Two years later, the boys were transferred to a new Boystown site in Zone 6.

In 2008, the Daycare and Women’s Training Center were built to serve poor toddlers and accommodate the professional training of single mothers.

Our Girlstown is currently home to 950 girls.

Meet Carmen, a student at Guatemala City Girlstown.

GUATEMALA CITY ZONE 10 FACILITY OVERVIEW:

  • 1 building for classrooms, dormitories and an indoor gymnasium
  • 1 four-story building with classrooms and dormitories for girls
  • 1 workshop
  • 1 soccer field
  • 1 two-story medical and dental clinics for poor outpatients
  • 1 three-story building for intensive technical high school
  • 1 day care center with capacity for 60 toddlers providing a safe place to play and learn while their mothers work
  • 1 sewage treatment plant
  • 1 graduates’ dormitory

QUICK FACTS

Villa de las Niñas, Guatemala City
3a Ave. 5-26, Zona 13
Apartado Postal 641-A
01013 Guatemala, C. A.

Capacity: 1,000 students

Opened in 1998

IN GUATEMALA, 75% OF THE POPULATION LIVES

BELOW THE POVERTY LEVEL. HELP OUR CHILDREN IN GUATEMALA

World Villages for Children is committed to providing care and education to children around the world who come to us with empty stomachs from destitute situations.

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Regular classes include computer, English, litterature, social studies, maths, chemistry, physics, biology, arts, music, Christian living, and physical education (PE). PE is particularly important to our students and choices include include soccer, basketball, hockey, dance, choir and marching band.

In addition to these classes, high school students also study philosophy, ethics and accounting.

In their last two years of study, our students choose one of three professional training majors – culinary arts, contact services (call center and customer serice) and handcrafted jewelry. This vocation training ensures that our girls can secure employment immediately after graduation.

Classes are held Monday through Friday from 8am to 4:45pm. Additional technical training is provided to our high school students on weekends, such as business adminitration (including on-the-job training) and dress-making.