Our Story
Our founder Sophie McKee visited Guatemala in 2002 to volunteer at a school she discovered on the brink of collapse. She began fundraising to ensure that the 75 students could continue their education. This was the start of the Education For The Children Foundation (EFTC). Today, EFTC’s School of Hope and its further education scholarships support over 600 students to access education and rewarding employment opportunities. We are proud to be at the heart of the Jocotenango community showcasing the talent and creativity of its young people to the world.
Listen to how the dream started...
Sophie, at the age of 19, knew what she wanted to achieve but she didn’t know where to start with funding — luckily her dad Dave did. Listen to their story: why and how they started the foundation, the importance of accessing education and healthcare and what they see the foundation achieving in the next 20 years.
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2003
EFTC foundation is formed to provide emergency funds for a school on the brink of closure, allowing students in Jocotenango to continue their education.
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2011
The new School of Hope building opens its doors: 20 classrooms, managment offices, a computer lab, an audiovisual room a mental health clinic and a school kitchen.
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2016
A new chef creates delicious, nutritious meals for students and organises parent workshops. Fundraising provides laptops for all teachers at The School of Hope.
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2020
The foundation constantly adapts and learns as it gets to grips with designing and delivering home learning, emergency food distribution and digital social support.
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2022
Fundraising enables all students to return to class every day with more numerous, smaller classes. Pandemic restrictions were finally lifted in October.
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2023
The roof of the School of Hope is replaced. The entire team celebrates 20 years of the foundation in July with students, staff, alumni , partners and supporters.
Welcome to the School of Hope
The School of Hope and our Further Education Program supports over 630 students and their 385 families. Our extensive education, nutrition, healthcare, social support and employment programs seek to remove any obstacle to education and enable our students to realize their potential.
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