The mission of Avivará is: “To improve the quality of and access to education in Guatemala, and cultivate interconnectedness between the peoples of Guatemala and the United States.”
Avivará serves children, teachers and parents in Guatemala by providing school improvement grants to rural schools in some of its most poverty-impacted villages. It also distributes scholarships for students committed to furthering their education, and supports the establishment of after-school learning centers in communities where the lack of adult/parent literacy makes it difficult for children to receive adequate educational support in their homes.
The original idea for Avivará grew out of the experiences of three educators, two from the United States and one, a Guatemalan teacher, all deeply committed to helping people work their way out of poverty through the power of education.
With over 40 years of combined experience as educators in the United States, Ann Austin and Gary Teale arrived in Guatemala in the summer of 2006 to begin work as volunteers with a project that provided educational support for children living in or near the garbage dump in Guatemala City. During the fourteen months that they spent working in that project, they saw the positive impact education could have in helping children and their families break out of the cycle of poverty. Also, as they became more familiar with the realities of Guatemala, they realized that similar challenges confronted children and families living in the rural areas of Guatemala where extreme poverty and illiteracy affect as much as 85% of the population.
Ann and Gary had the good fortune to become friends with Gustavo Valle, a Guatemalan teacher who also believed in the power of education. As a young boy he witnessed the transforming power of education in his own family. From that experience, and from a deep love for his country and its people, Gustavo became deeply committed to having as many Guatemalan children as possible have access to a quality education. He is the current Avivará Director of Programs and President of the Asociación Avivará Guatemalan Board of Directors.
Avivará currently supports seven rural schools, provides scholarships to eighteen students, and funds two after-school learning centers. Now entering its third year of existence, this organization continues to grow and expand its efforts in all three of these areas. In addition, Avivará offers a comprehensive, yet flexible, Service Learning and Study Abroad Program. Whether groups or individuals are planning on visiting Guatemala for a week, or a year, the staff at Avivará is able to provide logistical support and assistance to implement a safe, satisfying and meaningful Guatemala experience.
Avivará is a 501(c)(3) public charity in the United States and a tax-exempt, non-governmental organization (NGO) in Guatemala. To find out more about this organization and its programs, or how to make a contribution, please visit their website. In addition, Avivará also has its own page on Facebook.
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