Toward Educating America's CHildren - TEACH

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Toward Educating America's CHildren - TEACH We aim to provide for the educational needs of the Mayan children in Guatemala.

Founded by David Megel and Anne Larin to help provide for the educational needs of Mayan children in Guatemala. Today, TEACH is involved with the education of over 500 children in 9 schools in northeast Guatemala. The communities are struggling toward self-sustainability and recognize the need not only for primary education but also for continuing education for both young men and women. Once Partnership Agreements are established between TEACH and Mayan communities, TEACH provides funding to the communities for school supplies, teacher salaries, boarding fees, etc.

On Sunday August 2, the TEACH delegation went to Sunday mass at Sacred Hearts in Quiriguá and spent more time with the s...
08/04/2026

On Sunday August 2, the TEACH delegation went to Sunday mass at Sacred Hearts in Quiriguá and spent more time with the sisters at the boarding school. After getting tacos and rellenos to go, we drove to Monjas, near Jalapa, to meet with the scholarship students Saida and Juan Diego. We talked about future plans for their studies and then drove them back to the dorms.

We finished with a long drive to Antigua where we got stuck in traffic and almost ended up in the river creek for listening to Google Maps.

We arrived at Antigua at night, where we stayed with the Christian brothers of LaSalle.

On Saturday, August 1st, the TEACH delegation arrived at Puerto Barrios from Livingston, to the Hogar del Niño La Asunci...
08/03/2026

On Saturday, August 1st, the TEACH delegation arrived at Puerto Barrios from Livingston, to the Hogar del Niño La Asunción, orphanage. We met with the 3 sisters of La Asunción, run by Sor Aracely Escobar and her sisters.

We discussed our current status of the orphanage and planned for the future of the Teach-orphanage relationship. Then, the sisters gave us a tour of the orphanage where we met the 12 kids living in the establishment.

In the afternoon, we headed back to Quiriguá with the Sacred Hearts sisters and met with sisters Carla and Rosa. We followed up from our previous meeting, discussed and implemented a plan to meet the challenges of the boarding center.

Friday, July 31st, afternoon. After heading back to Livingston, the delegation went to the Kateri Educational Center, wh...
08/03/2026

Friday, July 31st, afternoon.
After heading back to Livingston, the delegation went to the Kateri Educational Center, where we met Sister Angelina and had a fruitful meeting. We discussed the current status of the program and future plans for the boarding school.

That night, the delegation had dinner with the local mayor of Livingston, Enrique; Rossi, the first lady; and their family. We had a productive conversation regarding the needs of the surrounding communities and their work with TEACH.

Friday, July 31st, the TEACH delegation had breakfast at the Hotel Caribe. Corey and Eduardo then headed towards the com...
08/03/2026

Friday, July 31st, the TEACH delegation had breakfast at the Hotel Caribe. Corey and Eduardo then headed towards the community of El Naranjal, about an hour from Livingston on very turbulent waters in the Gulf of Honduras.

The delegation was welcomed by the El Naranjal community, where we held the grand opening ceremony of the new school. This new building will be used for kindergarten, first, and second grade.

The ceremony included a couple of traditional dance performances and a talk by the community leader, Pablo Caal Tiul. Shortly after, we had brunch with the community leaders and discussed the projects and challenges they face regarding the future of education for their children.

Departing Sanabria on the afternoon of July 30th, we headed down the river to the boarding school Ak'tenamit. In Ak'tena...
08/03/2026

Departing Sanabria on the afternoon of July 30th, we headed down the river to the boarding school Ak'tenamit.

In Ak'tenamit, we met with scholarship students from the Lagunita area as well as a scholar from Tameja. After a fruitful meeting where they shared all their goals and dreams with TEACH, they thanked the association for all the work it has done for them over the years.

We then headed to the Villa Caribe hotel and rested for the rest of the day.

On Thursday, July 30th, we had a wonderful breakfast at the Qana Itz'am Restaurant, which is run by Filomena. Afterwards...
08/03/2026

On Thursday, July 30th, we had a wonderful breakfast at the Qana Itz'am Restaurant, which is run by Filomena. Afterwards, we walked to the school in Lagunita, where the children once again welcomed us with a full program of festivities and kind words from the staff and Luisa, the kindergarten teacher supported by TEACH.

Afterward, we enjoyed a delicious brunch consisting of chicken soup and the local style of tamaleta. Shortly after, we discussed the local needs and the current status of the students in the community.

Then we traveled to Sanabria, where TEACH supports the gas expenses for the boat that takes the children to and from the local school. We met with the local community and its leaders and waited for the children to return from school. After spending some time with the community, several students formally expressed their thanks and presented gifts to the TEACH representatives.

July 29th, afternoon. After the morning at Q'otoxha we headed to the Tameja community, where we were greeted with a trad...
08/03/2026

July 29th, afternoon. After the morning at Q'otoxha we headed to the Tameja community, where we were greeted with a traditional dance. The parents and staff stepped up to thank us for the support TEACH has provided them and their children this year. Notably, one of the parents of the scholarship students delivered a formal speech of gratitude. Shortly after, we were treated to a lunch of fish and rice.

After all this, we proceeded to Hotel Qana Itz'am, where we held a meeting with Rossi to discuss the Scholarship Students and Partnership Agreements. Then, we went to bed without water, internet, or electricity - but what can you do?

On July 29, we decided to head down the dock in Rio Dulce to grab some coffee before meeting Rossi from the Association....
08/03/2026

On July 29, we decided to head down the dock in Rio Dulce to grab some coffee before meeting Rossi from the Association. After Rossi arrived, she took us to the community of Qotox'ha Primary School, where we were warmly welcomed by the children and staff. Shortly after, supervisors from the Department of Education of Guatemala arrived and joined us for the celebration.

The children put on a performance featuring dancing and acting, along with other activities, including a karaoke session led by the school principal. After being honored, we were served chicken soup.

Tuesday, July 28. This morning Brother Victor Hernandez kindly greeted us at the hotel at 8 am and offered a brief tour...
08/03/2026

Tuesday, July 28. This morning Brother Victor Hernandez kindly greeted us at the hotel at 8 am and offered a brief tour along the lake shore. Following this, we proceeded to the Maya LaSalle Institute, where the students warmly welcomed us.

We were treated to a delightful theater performance by the first graders, a song performed by a young sixth grader, and a traditional dance by the sixth graders. After these presentations, members of the TEACH delegation had the opportunity to share a few words. Each member also received a gift in appreciation.

The visit concluded with a productive meeting between our delegation and representatives from Maya LaSalle, where we discussed further collaboration opportunities and plans for the future.

Following this meeting, we returned to the hotel to wait for our ride to Rio Dulce. Due to traffic caused by road construction, we left El Estor and arrived late in Rio Dulce early in the afternoon. We took a tuk-tuk to another ride that brought us to INSPA, where we were warmly welcomed. Once again, the students at the INSPA Boarding School delighted us with a brief dance performance.

After the presentation, we enjoyed a snack and then met with scholarship students and some of their parents. We discussed the program's current status and future plans.

Shortly after, we had dinner and then headed back to the hotel

Monday - July 27. Today, we visited the Semuy Community, about an hour from El Estor, going through the nickel mine. Wh...
08/02/2026

Monday - July 27. Today, we visited the Semuy Community, about an hour from El Estor, going through the nickel mine. When we arrived, they welcomed us with a big event where the students from different grades performed dances and Shari was presented with a recognition award.

Shortly after, we had a meeting with the community committee and scholarship students where we discussed the status of the program, challenges, goals and to find new ways to meet such challenges and prepare for the future. The committee there has been enlarged to seven members, with 2 women added since we last visited. The 9 scholarship students are now preparing to start their internships where they will teach basic education to little children.

After the meeting, we headed to lunch where they served us chicken soup with tamales. We signed the TEACH agreements, said goodbye and headed back to El Estor.

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PO Box 188
Burke, VA
22009

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+17039878777

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