Service Learning Programs
Faculty-led programs for university-level student groups
Partner with CEPA Foundation to create a service learning volunteer and/or awareness program. We will match projects in the community to meet the needs of your students and faculty leaders or together, we can create new initiatives that suit the objectives the community and your students' learning journeys.
The volunteer and awareness projects focus on children and families, school and education improvement, and/or health and medical needs. Healthcare, dental and nursing, education, optometry, agriculture, and water engineering majors are naturally a great fit for the current needs of the local community, but students from any academic field can greatly benefit from a service learning experience.
A wide range of cultural activities and excursions to famous sights of Guatemala can be incorportated into any program.
For all service-learning programs in Guatemala, CEPA Foundation is working in close cooperation with the local non-profit organization Fundación Corazones Libres (FUNCOLI) (Free Hearts Foundation). Their founder has been actively advocating for the Mayan community for over 20 years.
CEPA Foundation is highly committed to supporting FUNCOLI’s initiatives in Guatemala and gives back a portion of the revenue generated from each service-learning program to the communities in Vuelta Grande.
Download a sample itinerary
Spring 2025 Update
Learning Center:
We started our school year with the children, we were all excited to start this new school year. This year, in alliance with a Catholic youth group from Antigua Guatemala, EMPROISTAS DE ANTIGUA we collected 250 backpacks for all the students of the FUNCOLI Learning Center and the Public Elementary School. The delivery took place on Saturday, February 22 and activities were carried out.
Also on the same Saturday, teachers Raquel and Allisson received a workshop donated by psychologist Maricela Castillo who donated training on how to manage children's attitudes in the classroom.
Health:
On Saturday, January 25 we conducted a medical day with the support of a nursing school located in San Lucas, the name of the school is ECSI. During this day we had the opportunity to attend with 75 patients. We share with you a link to a video about the activity.
Projects: We are working with some finalist students from a private school in Antigua, the name of the school is Antigua International School, they are doing an audiovisual project, in which they are documenting the testimonies of the families and work of FUNCOLI in the village Vuelta Grande. This same school also came to celebrate Valentine's Day with our students, it was a very special morning and the children made a connection with our students.
CEPA Foundation organized a faculty led program for students from Georgian College. Their visit was very special. The students worked very well in the garden and even provided a manual to take care of the garden. During the week the volunteers had time to share with the children with different art activities.
Author: Maria Jose Romero Torres, Director / Directora, FUNCOLI
freeheartsfoundation.org.gt
In March 2024, students from Columbus State University visited the project. The group consisted of nine students and two teachers. During the volunteer week, they taught English to the children in the mornings and in the afternoons they built the 12 stoves which were donated.
All the volunteers from both universities were very happy and everything was a success.
In February 2024,students from Humber College visited the project. The three volunteers trained the teachers of the Public School and FUNCOLI´s teachers. The volunteers were very impressed with their work. They admired their talent, dedication and discipline with the children.
Video testimonials from West Virginia University students taking part in their service learning study abroad program in Guatemala from June 3 - 11, 2023.
Additional Resources:
FUNCOLI - Corazones Libres (Free Hearts Foundation)
Online Presentation