14 Mar 2024
Recent months have seen great activity at Centro Faustino Villanueva, the MSC-run vocational centre located in the rural region of San Agustín, Alta Verapaz, Guatemala. Situated in an extremely remote area more than eight hours’ drive from Guatemala City, the centre was founded by the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart in 1984 to bring opportunities for progression to adults from disadvantaged communities, and it has since grown into a large school for children that come from impoverished backgrounds or vulnerable family circumstances.
The community at the centre saw 2023 out in style with a wonderful graduation ceremony in November, celebrating students who had completed a two-year course in Business Administration.
A beautiful ceremony heralded a new year and new beginnings for students in January, with the Facebook page for Centro Faustino Villanueva sharing a collection of pictures with the caption, “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams”.
Beginning the 2024 school year at Centro Faustino Villanueva, Guatemala. (Image via @centrofaustinovillanuevamsc on Facebook.)
Beginning the 2024 school year at Centro Faustino Villanueva, Guatemala. (Image via @centrofaustinovillanuevamsc on Facebook.)
Beginning the 2024 school year at Centro Faustino Villanueva, Guatemala. (Image via @centrofaustinovillanuevamsc on Facebook.)
February brought a celebration of love in all its forms, with two students elected “Romeo and Juliet”, and teachers and staff joining in with the exchange of gifts in appreciation of friendship.
Celebrating love and friendship at Centro Faustino Villanueva, Guatemala. (Image via @centrofaustinovillanuevamsc on Facebook.)
Celebrating love and friendship at Centro Faustino Villanueva, Guatemala. (Image via @centrofaustinovillanuevamsc on Facebook.)
Celebrating love and friendship at Centro Faustino Villanueva, Guatemala. (Image via @centrofaustinovillanuevamsc on Facebook.)
At the end of the month, the Villanueva community marked a special day honouring their country and culture, celebrating their language and showcasing traditional clothing and foods.
With the centre marking 40 years of service in 2024, this very special anniversary year is already off to a flying start! We look forward to seeing more great things from the staff and students at Centro Faustino Villanueva, and, as ever, we keep the community there in our prayers as they continue in their remarkable efforts to create new opportunities for employment and empowerment for young people in need.
Images via the Facebook page for Centro Faustino Villanueva.