Great opportunities to do volunteer community work while you are learning Spanish in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. Help the children of La Pedrera to finish high school with your economic support.

La Pedrera is an indigenous community located on the rocky hills of Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. The people of La Pedrera moved from their pueblos to the near-city community looking for work and opportunities, and hoping to better their lives. Most adults speak the indigenous language k’iche’ as their mother tongue, while their children often only speak Spanish fluently.

Lacking education, the people of La Pedrera have access to employment only in domestic and physical labor.  These low-paying jobs provide barely enough income for crude shelter and a little food, leaving families unable to afford the expenses of sending their children to public schools. Children as young as six years old often join their parents and relatives working in the fields. The families of La Pedrera live with limited electricity and without running water.  Their homes have earthen floors, and in most cases only two rooms to shelter extended families of up to twenty people.

For more detailed information concerning volunteer work, donations, and participation with La Pedrera Project.

The La Pedrera School Project has recently been granted 501c3 status by the US government, making all donations after March 19, 2008 TAX DEDUCTIBLE!

Visit the La Pedrera website below to make your 100% tax deductible donation via check, money order.

Visit the new site

NEWS

Nov. 2009, Video from one volunteer’s trip to La Pedrera

David Thomas, a long time supporter of La Pedrera, took a trip to Guatemala in the winter of 2008 to teach computer skills to some of the students at the La Pedrera School. The Milwaukee (WI) Public TV program, “Adelante”, recently interviewed him about his trip. View the interview and see footage from his trip to the school on YouTube.

July 2007, New School Room Completed

We are pleased to announce that the new school room is completed and dedicated. The dedication and ribbon cutting was held on Wednesday, June 27, 2007. It was attended by about forty people, including Julio Batres, the owner of Casa Xelaju (and sponsor of the La Pedrera Project), the director of Casa Xelaju, the coordinator of the La Pedrera Project, students, parents and members of the community.

La Pedrera has a computer lab with internet.

NEW!  TAX DEDUCTIBLE STATUS

This year we received 501(c)(3) status from the IRS. As a non-profit, both sponsorship of a La Pedrera student and donations made to the La Pedrera School Project are now tax deductible.