Pasacuach Hope & Education Initiative

Welcome to our fundraising campaign dedicated to building a much-needed school in Pasacuach, nestled in the breathtaking Western Highlands of Guatemala. This initiative embodies a collaborative effort between the Pasacuach Community Development Committee, The Women's Circle of Pasacuach, the Highland Support Project (HSP), The Association of Highland Women (AMA), the Mayor's office of Santa Catarina, and the passionate Misfit Missions group & The Scott Steadman Promise Project. We believe that education is the key to unlocking potential and creating opportunities for the children of Pasacuach. Join us in transforming lives and fostering a brighter future for the next generation through this vital project. Together, we can make a lasting impact!

Climate change poses a significant threat to Highland communities in Western Guatemala, exacerbating environmental instability and leading to devastating mudslides that displace families from their homes. Over the past 15 years, Guatemala has experienced an alarming increase in mudslides, primarily due to deforestation, heavy rainfall, and the effects of climate change. Erratic and intense rainfall patterns elevate the risk of landslides in mountainous regions characterized by soil erosion. These disasters destroy vital infrastructure and compromise access to essential resources such as education and healthcare. For instance, in October 2015, a catastrophic landslide in the municipality of Santa Catarina Pinula claimed over 280 lives when a hillside collapsed onto a residential area.

Similarly, in 2019, intense rainfall triggered multiple mudslides across several regions, resulting in at least 15 fatalities and extensive damage to homes and roads. As communities are forced to relocate to safer regions, they often face additional challenges, including loss of agricultural land, cultural dislocation, and limited access to social services. This cycle of displacement creates a growing sense of insecurity, hindering development efforts to provide stability and opportunities for the future. Addressing these environmental changes is crucial to protecting the livelihoods and welfare of residents in these vulnerable highland areas. To combat these challenges, communities and geologists are actively working to identify habitable zones with solid foundations, allowing displaced families to relocate safely. Many are forced to move to ridge tops and higher elevations as the threat of landslides increases, a necessary adaptation to ensure their safety and sustainability.

At the beginning of each semester, Don Audelino Sac Coyoy, a respected K'iche scholar, poses a fundamental question to his students: "Are you learning to be happy in school?" This inquiry is the cornerstone of our educational initiative to build a transformative school in Pasacuach. We firmly believe that education should be enriched with beauty and love, as advocated by Maya academic Dr. Daniel Matul, allowing for a curriculum that imparts knowledge and nurtures community relationships and individual well-being. In the face of significant challenges, such as climate change and family displacement, we recognize the urgent need for restorative pedagogy that addresses our students' material, psychological, and spiritual needs. Our project aims to craft an educational environment that empowers children to grow and thrive, fostering resilience through community engagement and support. By transforming the current inadequate learning conditions—characterized by makeshift structures undermining students' potential—we aspire to create a safe, vibrant, and creative space where every child can learn to be happy and connected to their community. Your support is vital in helping us realize this vision and build a brighter future for the children of Pasacuach.