03.20.2012 - In Guatemala, many children finish their education at primary level because the secondary school is too far away from their village. But for young people in the Alta Verapaz region this situation has just changed: they now have their own secondary school thanks to Walo Suter, a Swiss sponsor. Through his generosity it has been possible to build the school and guarantee to keep it open for the next three years.

Estrella Lajeeb' Iq' is 15 years old and lives in the small mountain village of Gancho Caoba.  She was one of the children who had to give up school to work in the fields. Today she is one of the young people enrolled in this new secondary school. “I’m very happy that I can continue my studies. I’m determined to finish my education so I can fulfil my dream of becoming a teacher.”

Education is bilingual and intercultural as it is in the primary school. More than 50 young people aged 13-19 from Gancho Caoba and neighbouring villages now attend this secondary school.