December 2008 saw the start of work on Santa Teresa's primary school in Tucuru, Guatemala.
This is an indigenous Mayan Indian community, steeped in over 650 years of history and very much at the heart of coffee-growing. Historically, there have never been any school facilities in Tucuru, meaning children have to be taught by teachers from nearby schools in local community houses with temporary furniture.
The six new fully furnished classrooms, communal activity room and new sanitation built by the Foundation officially opened in March 2010, much to the delight of the 240 children and nine teachers using the facilities. Also, working in conjunction with Solidaridad, the Foundation is funding a social worker's salary for three years. In return they will run a ‘life skills' programme for the entire community. This will include ‘ABC' lessons for the community's women, the first access to education the adult women of Tucuru have ever had.
Two Costa Foundation trustees were fortunate enough to visit Tucuru in February 2009, meet the people within the community and witness the early stages of building progress at first hand.
Click on the video below to see a video diary of the progress in Tucuru.
