About
Sueños works with indigenous children and young adults, many whose families moved to Antigua from rural Guatemala in hopes of better economic opportunity. Many Sueños students are dedicated to sustaining the family economically through working when they are not in school.
Before attending Sueños our students had difficult experiences in public schools where they faced discrimination based on their language, culture and socioeconomic status, and experienced significant difficulties learning in Spanish, their second language. Sueños students needed extra support to be successful in school.
Sueños' approach of community-centered learning allows students to learn in a supportive environment completely free of cost. All classes are provided in both Ki'che and Spanish, and explore topics that are important to the community. Teachers are members of their community, creating trust and respect between families and the school, and our 1:7 staff to student ratio allows teachers to work with students individually. Parents are invited into the learning process through monthly workshops, parent-teacher conferences, monthly visits to the center where they help in the kitchen or classroom, and through opportunities of adult education. All of these elements allow students to be more successful in their learning at Sueños than in a traditional school.
Before attending Sueños our students had difficult experiences in public schools where they faced discrimination based on their language, culture and socioeconomic status, and experienced significant difficulties learning in Spanish, their second language. Sueños students needed extra support to be successful in school.
Sueños' approach of community-centered learning allows students to learn in a supportive environment completely free of cost. All classes are provided in both Ki'che and Spanish, and explore topics that are important to the community. Teachers are members of their community, creating trust and respect between families and the school, and our 1:7 staff to student ratio allows teachers to work with students individually. Parents are invited into the learning process through monthly workshops, parent-teacher conferences, monthly visits to the center where they help in the kitchen or classroom, and through opportunities of adult education. All of these elements allow students to be more successful in their learning at Sueños than in a traditional school.
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OUR PROGRAMS
ElementaryOur Elementary students are ages 6-14 and in grades 1-5. The mixed-age classroom allows students to work in family-like groups to examine important issues in their community while developing both academic and social and emotional skills.
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Early ChildhoodThe early childhood program receives students ages 4-6 and focuses on:
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Our Support system
At Sueños we believe that students need the support of their community to succeed. For this reason we have a three-pronged support system that
- Guarantees that parents are able to take an active role in their child's education,
- That students have the nutrition that they need to be successful, and
- Students and families have free access to mental health services
Parent CirclesSueños conducts monthly meetings with families to make sure that students are being supported in the best way possible.
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Nutrition & Health
In every class, students receive a complete, healthy meal, and a nutritious snack. For some students, this may be the only meal that they eat in a day. Throughout the year, students learn about and practice good nutrition habits. If this program interests you, consider becoming a Nutrition Sponsor!
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Mental Health ServicesSueños provides therapeutic counseling to children, parents and staff who face the effects of poverty, discrimination, and structural violence.
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Our Story
Sueños started as a seed in 2014 when the founder, Katie Korsyn, began volunteering with the working families and children in the Central Park of Antigua Guatemala.
Two years later, Katie decided to found a formal organization, Camino a la Escuela, which at the time had the goal of working with preschool-aged children to provide the tools necessary for success in first grade, while ensuring that families were able to navigate the process of enrolling their small children in primary school.
Almost two years after the founding of Camino a la Escuela, the organization found that there were new needs in the community, and better ways to provide for students of all ages. In 2018, Camino a la Escuela changed its name to better reflect its work with a population of students ages 0-18, as well as their families. Sueños stands for Sembrando Unidos la Educación para los Niños (which roughly translate to Together Planting Education for the Children) to represent a change in the focus of the organization: to provide the tools and motivation necessary for students to choose their own path in life, and achieve their dreams.
Two years later, Katie decided to found a formal organization, Camino a la Escuela, which at the time had the goal of working with preschool-aged children to provide the tools necessary for success in first grade, while ensuring that families were able to navigate the process of enrolling their small children in primary school.
Almost two years after the founding of Camino a la Escuela, the organization found that there were new needs in the community, and better ways to provide for students of all ages. In 2018, Camino a la Escuela changed its name to better reflect its work with a population of students ages 0-18, as well as their families. Sueños stands for Sembrando Unidos la Educación para los Niños (which roughly translate to Together Planting Education for the Children) to represent a change in the focus of the organization: to provide the tools and motivation necessary for students to choose their own path in life, and achieve their dreams.
Find out more
What are mothers in Guatemala facing?
Stories from Mothers |
Who we are
Our Team |