Aprendiendo y Cooperando: A Bridge Between Spanish Language Learning and Volunteering

The School of Choquiac: A Living Legacy of Community Self-Management

High in the mountains of the Guatemalan highlands, where the wind carries ancient songs and maize continues to guide the rhythm of life, one of INEPAS’ most profound legacies was born: the School of Choquiac.

This pioneering project was the first tangible expression of a dream — education built from the ground up, from the very heart of the people. In Choquiac, for the first time, INEPAS boldly promoted community self-management: a model where the community doesn’t just participate — it leads, decides, and transforms.

The school was built by the hands of the community, with the wisdom and hopes of the elders. It was not imposed — it was dreamt.

Here, education became an act of autonomy: the curriculum dialogues with the Mayan worldview; the mother tongue is honored and taught; learning is interwoven with life, land, and history.

A video produced by UNESCO allows us to look back on this origin with deep respect and admiration. It captures the spirit of this community school, where learning is not merely about memorizing — it is about remembering who we are. The School of Choquiac represents an educational approach that is profoundly human and rooted in local context, responding to the realities and dreams of the community.

It reminds us that true social transformation begins when communities reclaim the right to shape their own path — especially in education.

Today, the School of Choquiac remains both beacon and seed. A beacon because it has illuminated the way for other community-based educational initiatives. A seed because it has blossomed into new efforts that carry forward the spirit of INEPAS: contributing with ethical commitment, strengthening the dignity of peoples, and weaving hope from ancestral knowledge.

This legacy does not belong to the past. It lives on in every child, every youth, every grandmother and grandfather who proudly guard their culture.

In this story also shine the quiet yet powerful hands of the community’s mothers, who, day after day, lovingly prepared meals for the children. Their contribution was not merely logistical — it was an act of love, devotion, and everyday resistance. They, too, nourished the soul of this collective project.

These women — guardians of life — sustained this educational dream with dignity and tenderness, showing us that to educate is also to care.

To all the women, grandparents, and elders of Choquiac, we offer our heartfelt recognition and gratitude.

Recognition from the Human Rights Ombudsman’s Office for INEPAS’ Social Work

“The Human Rights Ombudsman’s Office (PDH) extends its sincere recognition and congratulations to the Asociación Instituto de Estudios de Español y Participación en Ayuda Social (INEPAS) for its outstanding social work in favor of human rights and community development.

The PDH acknowledges that, for decades, INEPAS has shown an ethical and sustained commitment to the promotion of education, social justice, the defense of cultural identity, the strengthening of community self-management, and the respect for the rights of Indigenous peoples.

Its work has significantly contributed to ensuring the right to quality education for children, youth, and adults — particularly in Maya communities.

This recognition reaffirms the importance of INEPAS’ social and educational efforts as a valuable contribution to building a more just society that respects human rights in Guatemala.”

Translated from the Spanish.

Medical Relief Missions – Tropical Storm Agatha

Tropical Storm Agatha left its mark on several communities — but it also awakened the best of the human spirit: solidarity.

In response to the emergency, a team of volunteer doctors from the University of San Carlos of Guatemala mobilized with generosity and dedication to provide medical care to affected families.

Thanks to the valuable support of the National Civil Police, who coordinated transportation to the hardest-hit areas, it was possible to bring assistance where it was most needed.

These medical relief missions included general practitioners and a pediatrician, who offered care to children in the affected communities with tenderness and professionalism.

Each consultation, each diagnosis, each act of care was a reminder that we are not alone. Because when the storm passes, what remains is the strength of a people who rise again — with the help of those who never hesitate to reach out.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to the volunteer doctors, the National Civil Police, and every person who made this humanitarian mission possible.

Health is a right — and in moments like these, it is also an act of love.

Linguistic Immersion Program with Students from Pacific University, Oregon

A group of students from Pacific University, Oregon, USA, embarked on a journey beyond the classroom — toward a transformative experience: the Linguistic Immersion Program.

During their stay, they not only learned Spanish in a real and dynamic context, but also immersed themselves in the local culture, sharing experiences, traditions, and new ways of seeing the world.

They participated in interactive classes, cultural workshops, community visits, and activities that deeply connected them with the language and the people.

Each day was a new opportunity to learn, to laugh, to collaborate, and to discover.

The immersion was not only linguistic — it was also profoundly human. Through direct contact with the community, the students lived moments they will hardly forget.

Thank you for trusting in this space of connection, learning, and mutual growth.

See you soon, students of Pacific University! INEPAS will always be your home in Quetzaltenango.

The Solidarity of NextStep and Compañeros en Solidaridad Reaches Guatemala

With great enthusiasm, the container sent by NextStep Recycling was received — thanks to the invaluable coordination of Compañeros en Solidaridad, who have been a vital bridge in making this dream a reality.

The container, filled with computers, made it possible to expand computer labs in various communities, bringing technology and new opportunities to hundreds of children and youth.

In a true spirit of collaboration, international volunteers and students from local schools came together to unload the container. It was a day filled with energy, teamwork, and shared purpose.

Each computer unloaded represented far more than just a device: it is a tool for learning, a gateway to the digital world, and a step toward a more just and inclusive future.

Our heartfelt thanks go to NextStep Recycling, Compañeros en Solidaridad, and everyone who helped make this project possible.

Together, we connect communities, transform lives, and plant seeds for the future.

Inauguration of the Computer Lab

Celebrating a very special moment: the opening of a new computer lab dedicated to education, development, and the future of the community.

This space, equipped with accessible and functional technology, is the result of collaboration among partner organizations, volunteers, teachers, and above all, a shared commitment to the right of children and youth to learn, create, and grow.

Here, where once there were only dreams, today there are computers turned on, curious students, and open doors to knowledge.

We deeply thank those who made this possible: NextStep Recycling, Compañeros en Solidaridad, international and local volunteers, teachers, students, and every person who has placed their trust in this project.

Each lab is more than just a physical space — it is a seed of hope.

The Arrival of the Bastones in Guatemala

More than mere objects, the staves — bastones in Spanish— represent the connection between peoples, the lineage of community leadership, and the commitment to defend life, territory, and memory. Their arrival in Guatemala marks not only a ceremonial event but also the rebirth of the collective spirit of peoples walking with dignity toward the reconstruction of their identity.

Through this act, the bonds between territories are woven anew, shared struggles are recognized, and the call to walk with a steadfast heart and the courage of the word are reaffirmed.

The bastones, bearers of ancestral wisdom, crossed physical and spiritual borders as symbols of continuity, resistance, and commitment. Their arrival marks a new cycle, weaving together the struggles for dignity, justice, and respect for the principles that govern life in harmony with Mother Earth.

By receiving them on Guatemalan soil, the alliance between sister nations of Abya Yala is honored, and the will to continue walking together is reaffirmed — guided by the energy of the heart, the ancestral word, and the strength of the collective spirit.

In an act filled with ancestral memory and profound spirituality, Guatemala received the staves of authority — millenary symbols of guidance, protection, and unity among Indigenous peoples.

This gesture is inscribed in the long memory of peoples who, since time immemorial, have walked with wisdom, safeguarding knowledge, the cycles of time, maize, and the sacred fire.

Press Conference: Official Launch of the Diploma in Teaching Spanish as a Second Language

With deep joy and commitment, we officially present the Diploma in Teaching Spanish as a Second Language, an innovative training program designed to prepare new teachers of the Spanish language. This program offers solid and up-to-date training that will enable them to teach with greater clarity, precision, and effectiveness at an international level.