GUATEMALA
Guatemala is located in Central America. It is bordered by Mexico, Honduras, Belize, and El Salvador. The two bodies of water that border Guatemala are the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean.
MAGDALENA
Magdalena, Milpas Altas, is a rural mountainous community in the central highlands of Guatemala, Central America. It is a municipality of the Guatemalan Department of Sacatepéquez. It has an area of eight square kilometers and is 2,045 meters above sea level. It is made up of several neighboring communities and has a population of over 18,000 people.
COMMUNITY
Agriculture is the largest economic activity. People in this community are commonly employed as farmers or laborers, working in fields with corn, beans, peas, and carrots. Others have jobs in the areas of public services and craft production. The average wage is $6 per day. Many of the people live in poverty, struggling to provide basic needs for their families. Because of this hardship, children lack the resources needed to obtain a quality education. Many of the children come from broken families, where alcoholism, absent fathers, violence or abuse is present.
EDUCATION
One problem that exists in Guatemala, including those that reside in Magdalena, is adult literacy. This is most common in adults over the age over forty. This is due to the view of many parents that it is better for their children to be at home, working in the fields, rather than studying at school. Consequently, many of them do not have a great desire, for themselves and for their children, to advance their education and to be more successful. Because of this mentality, many children must still work at home instead of going to school.
BREAK THE CYCLE
We believe that this is a cycle that needs to be broken and that the community needs to understand the importance of education. Our belief is that the best way to change this is to provide a Christian school, where they can have better opportunities, learn values, realize the importance of education, be connected to the local church, and come to know Jesus Christ. Mount Sinai Christian School was founded in 2011 to provide the children of the community with an opportunity to receive a quality Christian education and experience the love of Christ in their lives.
