Classrooms for Laguna Danta

Laguna Danta is an idyllic mountain village of the K'iche Maya, located in the western highlands of Guatemala in the county of Uspantan. The weather is cool and the fog rolls in and blankets it each day, even in the summer. Its 67 families speak primarily K'iche and a few men speak some Spanish. They endured much suffering during Guatemala's protracted civil war in the 1970s and 1980s. They are wary of outsiders, but United by Friendship volunteers have formed warm and trusting relationship with them over the years.

The village of Laguna Danta has identified a need for 2 additional classrooms and two bathrooms for its elementary school. There are 84 students in kindergarten through grade 6 and only 4 small classrooms. In order to provide the elementary students with an education, the classes take turns being taught outdoors. This may sound like fun except that Laguna Danta is located in the high mountain cloud forest where it rains 10 months of the year. It is often cold and damp and the children are completely exposed to the elements.

Please donate now toward improving access to education for these shy and inquisitive precious children.

Laguna Danta child clings to his mother's skirt	Flag ceremony	One of Laguna Danta's leaders