BCOIA Annual Board Member Visits to 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. These workshops have continued at the satellite schools and board members have been fortunate to participate in large conferences planned by CAS and UVG-Altiplano for local public and private school teachers. 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.

As BCOIA continued to evolve, 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. The schools were identified by authorities at CAS and the UVG-Altiplano.

In 2009, BCOIA added two additional schools in the south coast area; Escuela Motanas Azules and Fagua Buena Vista.

As we continue to evolve and expand, as of 2008, BCOIA has established a scholarship fund to sponsor up to two local teachers who are enrolled in the bilingual profesorado program at UVG-Altiplano as well as provided monetary contributions to the schools in Solola for the following: Escuela Tercer Centro received money purchase land to build a new school and to the Escuela El Barranco for the construction of two bathrooms at the school.

From a global focus in the 1970’s to a concentration of efforts on one country in Central America, the BCOIA has evolved and changed in focus, but it has remained true to the goals established by the founders of the organization, to promote interest in, understanding of and appreciation for multi-cultures and life styles and to contribute in some way to the improvement of education.