During my personal travels through various countries in Latin America, I visited Escuela Caracol, which I had wanted to get to know for a long time. For several years, we had already been in contact through WOW Day (the international student campaign in which Waldorf students around the world support each other through various fundraising activities). That’s why I was particularly excited about the visit and looking forward to meeting the teachers and children in person. Together with my partner and my family, I took a boat across Lake Atitlán to the small harbour of San Marcos. From there, we followed a narrow footpath lined with colourful market stalls, walking uphill for about 15 minutes to the school. After walking along the winding cobblestone path through the jungle-like garden area of the school grounds, we were greeted straight away by laughing, singing kindergarten children. Some came towards us hand in hand, others climbing over stones in a kind of stop-and-go running game on their way to their outdoor play area.
The entire school grounds felt like an adventure playground: everywhere we could see there were rocks and trees to climb, hidden corners behind plants, and distinctively designed classrooms and communal buildings. It’s very green, a bit enchanted, and I had the feeling that every corner had been lovingly planned.
The colourful toys and the adventurous grounds with swings, climbing ropes, and discovery corners stirred a strong nostalgic wish in me to go back to kindergarten myself — to play, and to listen to fairy tales from different cultures. After visiting the younger kindergarten groups, we also visited the older children at the school.
One of the school classes was currently enjoying their first yoga experiences in the Palapa, a type of open, circular pavilion with a palm-thatched roof. A volunteer yoga teacher who happened to be in San Marcos was showing the children some mindfulness, breathing, and yoga exercises.
Besides that, we also got to peek into a creatively prepared maths lesson with another kindergarten group and then attended an English class for the older students. Overall, the children all seemed cheerful, playful, open, and eager to learn. We were greeted and warmly welcomed by everyone, which was a very moving experience.
Fortunately, we didn’t notice the financial challenges that Escuela Caracol faces in the daily kindergarten and school routine. Despite the ongoing financial struggles and uncertainties, all staff members were incredibly kind and loving to the children. Everyone was committed and fully engaged, even though they are the first to be affected by drops in donations and other financial difficulties — about 75 percent of Escuela Caracol’s total income is used for salaries. The school hasn’t been able to afford a salary increase for its 17 teachers for a long time, even though it’s urgently needed. Most teachers earn about 300 euros a month, which is far below the average income in Guatemala.
While the school’s income structure has changed somewhat thanks to adjusted school fees starting in 2025, it’s still not enough to operate independently from donations. Around 60 percent of the school’s total income comes from its sponsorship programmes (regular donations through educational sponsorships), while the majority of the rest comes from free, irregular donations. Tuition fees actually contribute only a small portion, which is very important for the school’s social concept. Nearly 90 percent of all children come from indigenous families — families who are often socially and financially disadvantaged in Guatemala and cannot afford high school fees. Even this year’s tuition increase to 400 Quetzales (about 45 euros) per month caused 15 children to have to leave the school — even though it’s one of the few alternatives where children are taught not only in Spanish and English but also in their indigenous Mayan mother tongue, Kaqchikel. Accordingly, it’s very important to keep parents’ contributions as low as possible. Even though this is a school primarily for indigenous children, the Guatemalan government provides no funding support.
These difficulties are making the Escuela Caracol's long-term goal of establishing an eighth and ninth grade more and more difficult.
Personally, I find it incredibly admirable how the staff manage to keep these difficult challenges out of the classroom. There was a light-heartedness and cheerfulness in the classrooms that I have rarely eexperienced in schools. In fact, Escuela Caracol seemed like a little paradise to me, a place where I would have loved to go to school.
Johanna Ruber
You too can support Escuela Caracol with a class sponsorship as part of an educational sponsorship programme. Learn more here:
We would also be very happy about a one-time or regular donation. Here you can help easily: Donate now