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The Bucks County Organization for Intercultural Advancement (BCOIA), founded in 1974, provides consultants and services for schools, colleges and universities abroad.

As a formal organization, BCOIA continued its work with various educational institutions in Central and South America, Africa, and the Middle East, however by the mid 1980’s the country of Guatemala began to be the focus of its efforts and activities.

Its activities in Guatemala and the close relationship that it developed with the Universidad del Valle de Guatemala began in 1982 when the Latin American Teaching Fellowship (LATF) Program of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy of Tufts University announced that it was closing its visiting professor program in Latin America. At the time of this announcement, the Universidad del Valle, the Universidad Francisco Marroquin, and the public Universidad de San Carlos had six LATF teaching fellows on their faculties.

Under the leadership of Dr. Robert MacVean, then the Executive Director of the Foundation of the Universidad del Valle and a well-known and highly regarded educator, the three universities consulted with the ISS which in turn suggested that the BCOIA might be able to provide the assistance the university needed. The Organization agreed to incorporate the visiting professor project in Guatemala into their other programs of providing personnel and services abroad.

In 2004, the Board initiated an annual on-site visit and board meeting in Guatemala. During that first visit to Guatemala, board members presented professional development workshops and seminars to the teachers and staff at ASG, Colegio Interamericano and CAS.

During 2004 and 2005, several Guatemalan teachers from ASG and CAS were able to spend a two week period observing public schools in Pennsylvania. The experience, arranged by board members, was a positive one for the teachers and for the US teachers and students whom they met.

In 2005, the Board decided to expand its outreach and “adopt” four public, rural schools; Escuela San Pedrito and Escuela Campomiento located in the south coast area, and Escuela El Barranco and Tresor Centro located in the highlands of Solola.