The School of the Saints ~ La Escuela de los Santos
"Educating, equipping, and enriching the saints"
Children who cannot even dream of a daily meal much less an education are hoping for a bright new day as they watch the walls of The School of the Saints rise.
They are watching their classrooms be built and
they are waiting for their Journey of Hope to begin at The School of the Saints.
In a loving and very "green" environment, these children and their families will receive an education, daily meals, clean water, regular dental and health care
and an appreciation for caring for creation.
When the school is fully functional, it is anticipated that 250-300 children will attend grades K-6.
The curriculum at The School of the Saints will surpass educational standards
established by the Guatemalan government by
including classes in English, health, music and the arts and much more.
Dozens of missionaries from the United States are anxious to teach at the School of the Saints, offering their gifts and talents and supplementing the course work offered by local teachers.
Most of these teachers will help out at the school when they are on their spring and summer breaks--the middle of the school year in Guatemala.
(Once The School of the Saints is opened, volunteer teachers from the United States can learn more about short-term teaching opportunites at this web-site.)
Children from impoverished famillies will be able to attend The School of the Saints through the support of friends of Journeys of Hope. To learn more about how you can support The School of the Saints, click here.
Caminos de Esperanza (Journeys of Hope), the not-for-profit (NFP) and non-governmental organization (NGO) founded by Estuardo and Diane, will work to ensure the fiscal stability of the school. Thus far, funding for the school has come from gifts from congregations, individuals, missionary groups who purchase supplies for their work projects, the ELCA and through the Dardón family. Some of the greatest support has come from many friends associated with One in Christ Parish in Lake Mills, IA. Under the enthusiastic guidance of Pastor Bill Peters, friends of Lake Mills, have offered financial support, technical expertise and tremendous amounts of love and encouragement toward one another, toward the remarkable people of Guatemala and toward the Dardon family as the School of the Saints is birthed.
In addition to providing quality education to children in Reu, and surrounding areas, the school will also provide educational programs in health care, nutrition, parenting (and more) for every family with children enrolled in the school. These families will also benefit from the annual medical clinics, which will eventually be on site at the School of the Saints. During the school year (January through October), children enrolled in the school will also be provided with daily meals and dental and hygiene care.
The School of the Saints is named in memory of Diane's father, Eugene "Gene" Schmit who died on January 11, 2005 from cancer and in memory of Estuardo's father, Inez Dardón, who died on January 11, 2007 as the result of an auto accident. Both of these saints had a love for life and knew the importance of education. They also loved children and their spirits are a constant inspiration to the Dardón family as they work on the School of the Saints. The school is also named in honor of all the saints--the hundreds of missionaries--who are helping make this dream come true and to the hundreds of saints who will laugh and play and learn in the school.
Ground breaking on The School of the Saints began in the spring of 2007 and the school will be dedicated on January 11, 2011. The first classes will begin several weeks after the dedication and children living in the area surrounding the school are anxious and excited as a new journey begins for them!
They are watching their classrooms be built and
they are waiting for their Journey of Hope to begin at The School of the Saints.
In a loving and very "green" environment, these children and their families will receive an education, daily meals, clean water, regular dental and health care
and an appreciation for caring for creation.
When the school is fully functional, it is anticipated that 250-300 children will attend grades K-6.
The curriculum at The School of the Saints will surpass educational standards
established by the Guatemalan government by
including classes in English, health, music and the arts and much more.
Dozens of missionaries from the United States are anxious to teach at the School of the Saints, offering their gifts and talents and supplementing the course work offered by local teachers.
Most of these teachers will help out at the school when they are on their spring and summer breaks--the middle of the school year in Guatemala.
(Once The School of the Saints is opened, volunteer teachers from the United States can learn more about short-term teaching opportunites at this web-site.)
Children from impoverished famillies will be able to attend The School of the Saints through the support of friends of Journeys of Hope. To learn more about how you can support The School of the Saints, click here.
Caminos de Esperanza (Journeys of Hope), the not-for-profit (NFP) and non-governmental organization (NGO) founded by Estuardo and Diane, will work to ensure the fiscal stability of the school. Thus far, funding for the school has come from gifts from congregations, individuals, missionary groups who purchase supplies for their work projects, the ELCA and through the Dardón family. Some of the greatest support has come from many friends associated with One in Christ Parish in Lake Mills, IA. Under the enthusiastic guidance of Pastor Bill Peters, friends of Lake Mills, have offered financial support, technical expertise and tremendous amounts of love and encouragement toward one another, toward the remarkable people of Guatemala and toward the Dardon family as the School of the Saints is birthed.
In addition to providing quality education to children in Reu, and surrounding areas, the school will also provide educational programs in health care, nutrition, parenting (and more) for every family with children enrolled in the school. These families will also benefit from the annual medical clinics, which will eventually be on site at the School of the Saints. During the school year (January through October), children enrolled in the school will also be provided with daily meals and dental and hygiene care.
The School of the Saints is named in memory of Diane's father, Eugene "Gene" Schmit who died on January 11, 2005 from cancer and in memory of Estuardo's father, Inez Dardón, who died on January 11, 2007 as the result of an auto accident. Both of these saints had a love for life and knew the importance of education. They also loved children and their spirits are a constant inspiration to the Dardón family as they work on the School of the Saints. The school is also named in honor of all the saints--the hundreds of missionaries--who are helping make this dream come true and to the hundreds of saints who will laugh and play and learn in the school.
Ground breaking on The School of the Saints began in the spring of 2007 and the school will be dedicated on January 11, 2011. The first classes will begin several weeks after the dedication and children living in the area surrounding the school are anxious and excited as a new journey begins for them!
