Cooperative for Education

I traveled with Cooperative for Education (CoEd) without expectation. Had I had expectations, this experience would have exceeded them. There's nothing like seeing the delight of rural school children as we approach with computers, text books, pencils and net bags filled with soccer balls, kick balls, frisbees and a ball pump. The grateful joy emanating from the children was a reward I had not anticipated. It was hard to maintain a dry eye!

Our Snapshot Tour was well planned and executed. Any unforeseen glitch that arose was dealt with immediately and safely. The accommodations were great and the meals abundant, delicious and varied. The excellent, kind and well educated CoEd staff were prepared to handle any issues that arose with the volunteers.

We were also given ample free time to explore the areas we visited and we visited some extraordinary historical sites, villages and towns. Everything was so interesting and enlightening.

The entire experience was unforgettable. I plan to take my granddaughter on a CoEd Helping Hands Tour when she's 12 years old. Undoubtedly that experience will be life-changing for her.

Second trip. Look forward to more. Terrific organization with truly dedicated staff of caring professionals...

My wife and I just returned from our second trip to Guatemala with Cooperative for Education. COED'S mission is to break the cycle of poverty through education. Guatemala is one of the poorest countries in this hemisphere, and one of its issues is a high degree of illiteracy. First of all, the trip was wonderful and inspiring. But the great thing about COEd is that they are a model for sustainability. For example, they provide textbooks for schools, but after the initial donation, the students "rent" the books for a small amount monthly so that the school will be able to replace the books in a few years when they are worn out.
And they recruit sponsors to pay for students' high school tuition, since high schools in Guatemala are mostly private.. And for the younger students learning to read, they ensure there are books in the classroom, and they provide teacher training. (Many teachers in Guatemala have only a high school education and little professional training)
And COED tracks their results closely. I'm in the Rotary club and recently one of the presidents of Rotary International named COED as a model development organization. I have been encouraging other members of our club to go to Guatemala with COED to see how development projects should function.

A well-established group supporting education in rural Guatemala so that they can lift themselves and their families out of poverty.
They have sustainable programs to supply books for teaching early reading and training teachers in pedagogical techniques to use them, support to establish computer hubs in schools and to provide textbooks for older students. These programs are structured in a way that they become financially self supporting once established.
They also provide scholarships to enable high school students to continue their education (which isn’t free in Guatemala). Only 1 in 10 children who start elementary school in rural areas will graduate high school, severely limiting their earning potential for their lifetime. There is a robust on-the-ground support system to assist in the selection and support of the students.
The staff are hard working, caring, and very supportive of all their partners in the schools. The programs are well run and much appreciated. Ongoing decisions regarding the programs are made largely by the schools themselves.
Donors can contribute to any of the programs or provide a scholarship for a student.
My husband and I have sponsored 2 students and are signing up to sponsor 3 more. The students have big dreams for careers and better lives for their families. We receive updates on their lives and the progress of their studies. Not all will graduate high school but every extra year of education they can get improves conditions for their future.
We are impressed with the sustainable nature of the programs which has enabled them to extend their reach to thousands of students and families over their history.

I've sponsored children's education in Guatemala. The goal of this nonprofit is to break the cycle of poverty in Guatemala through literacy. They do an excellent job providing reading material, computers and teacher training to increase literacy for these children.

This was my most rewarding and inspirational adventure I have ever had. Helping children fulfill their dreams through education is probably the most important step in fighting poverty. The CoEd program has been vital achieving this goal and I was fortunate to be part of this work. I plan to continue supporting this noble effort.

This organization is one that helps thousands of families and students which is amazing. I went on the GO trip to Guatemala in July and had the best experience possible. The tour guides and staff really made this trip fun, a great learning experience, and provided countless opportunities that I am forever thankful for!

We have visited Guatemala twice with Co-ed and we have supported the program for several years. The methods Co-ed uses to further educational opportunities for indigenous Guatemalans are honorable, empowering and proven. The approach is very "hand-up" rather than "hand-out".

Went on a Guatemalan service trip with Cooperative for Education. The trip was so well organized and I felt like we were doing truly useful things. It was so great. I am so impressed with the work that Co-Ed is doing in Guatemala. I feel that it is super practical and meaningful for the students and their families. The Co-Ed staff is absolutely awesome and made the tour even more fabulous!!

We were so impressed by the work Cooperative for Education is doing in Guatemala. Their impact is obvious, and their work is strategic, personal, and deeply sensitive to the needs of the communities they serve. The trip we attended was a great blend of education, cultural experience, and service.

My recent experience with this CoEd left me in awe of their dedication, their personal touch, and the unwavering commitment to their mission.

From the moment I stepped into their facilities, I was greeted with warmth and genuine care. The staff at CoEd are more than just professionals; they are individuals deeply passionate about making a difference in the lives of others. Their dedication is palpable, and their enthusiasm is infectious.

what resonated with me the most was the incredible mission and legacy of CoEd. Their tireless efforts to break the cycle of poverty through education are nothing short of inspiring. By empowering students with the tools and relationships they need to succeed, CoEd is not just changing individual lives; they are shaping entire communities for generations to come.

my experience with CoEd was nothing short of transformative. Their incredible staff, unwavering commitment to security, and remarkable mission are a testament to the power of education to change the world. I am grateful for the opportunity to witness their work firsthand and will continue to support their cause in any way I can.

(and if you get the chance to meet Joe, Pamela, Mayra, Harold, Legia, Liza, or Savannah, you will be greatly blessed just by even the shortest of interactions.)

I had a great experience with Cooperative for Education. They are a well run and well managed organization that is doing great things for children.!

One of the most sustainable and impactful non-profits I have every experienced. I would highly recommend supporting CoEd and their mission.

I connected with Cooperative for Education in 2020. I made my first trip with them to Guatemala to see if it really delivers on its promise. Since then I have made 15+ trips in support of their literacy program. I have seen it grow from a startup to the well-oiled machine it is today. It is still delivering on its promise to focus on ending the cycle of poverty in Guatemala through education. They are excellent financial stewards, getting the most from every contributed dollar. The proof is in the results - almost 300,000 children have been positively impacted by this project. If we are going to make the world a better place, it needs to start with educating children. If you want to reduce immigration pressure, educate the young so they have an opportunity for growth at home.

CoEd is a reliable organization. They provide a wonderful opportunity to experience life in Guatemala and their program has a very positive impact on children and families.

I've been supporting this organization for many years now and have always been incredibly proud of the work that they are doing to break the cycle of poverty in Guatemala by providing students with the tools and opportunities that they need to get a valuable education. I've recently been able to go to Guatemala to meet the students that we've been supporting and get to visit the beautiful country where they live. It was such an incredible and humbling experience. I would encourage everyone to take a look at Cooperative for Education and consider supporting them.

Cooperative for Education is doing vitally important work in Guatemala. I had the pleasure of volunteering with their team and working alongside them in Guatemala. The organization was phenomenal, the work they are doing is research-based, relevant, and important for students and teachers. As a university professor, focused on education research and professional development in the United States, I was fully impressed with the academic rigor, design, and structure of their program to support education. I commend Cooperative for Education for all they do and appreciate their role to support the education of students and teachers in Guatemala.

I joined them for their Helping Hands tour and it was truly inspiring. They are doing so much good and doing it so thoughtfully. This was a once in a lifetime experience for my daughter and I. I can’t wait to do it again!

The Rotary CoEd Literacy project is the gold standard for Literacy in our Rotary literacy world. After 25 years, this program has helped rural Indigenous people go from two in three being illiterate to one in three. It has got parents to buy into the program and support their children by contributing a small financial amount each year to purchase books every five years and computers every seven years, making the program sustainable. Rotarians contribute monthly and in cash amounts for specific projects that also make the program financially sustainable. The program not only gives books, textbooks and computers, but teaches the teachers how to teach with 40 hours of teaching over two years. This has helped the teachers teach literacy by phonics. We witnessed teachers in the senior grades getting their students to work as a team and develop critical thinking as opposed to rote recitation. I was very impressed with this program that has celebrated its 25th anniversary. It is very well organized and run. I heartily recommend it as a model for other programs worldwide for literacy and education.

I traveled with the team for 8 days, visiting Guatemala schools. They were incredibly focused on details and provided a very exciting trip to observe the fantastic educational projects they do in Guatemala.

Second time with their literacy tour of Guatemala. Very organized and dedicated staff. Breaking the cycle of poverty thru education one student at a time.

The Cooperative for Education is making a positive impact in helping Guatemalan school children break the cycle of poverty. While as a Rotarian I spend a week each year on the Guatemala Literacy Project tour and attend some of the Graduation Tours, the Coed staff are the "boots on the ground" literally 24/7 ensuring the success of the programs with the dedicated and professional staff. That is why I am deeply involved as a sponsor, including sponsoring 3 RISE students.

Went to the graduation tour and was able see my sponsored student graduate... In fact I was honored to hand her, her certificate.
This non profit spends their donations wisely and is making an impact in Guatemala.

Cooperative for Education simply does it right. They know how to help teachers, students and families to break the cycle of poverty through education. I have visited and worked with many of their schools and talked to students and teachers and graduates of the programs, and the results speak for themselves. They also know how to built a community of support that makes you feel like your support is making a difference.

I had always wanted to do a mission trip of some sort ,a brochure ,for Coop for Education,I had picked up kept reappearing in my ‘to do’ list, I also heard someone recommend it when I was on a retreat. I knew I wanted to take one of their tours to Guatemala. I was hesitant ,at first, thinking I wouldn’t be doing any physical labor,but it only took a day to see how interacting with the students ,supporting their long term educational needs and giving them the tools for a bright future was truly making a difference. That was 8 yrs. Ago, we also support 2 students with an educational scholarship. Coop for Education is so focused on their goal and delivers,we remain in contact with our students and see 1st hand their progress. The tour itself was very well run, we truly loved and admired our tour guides, our safety was a very high priority, Guatemala is a beautiful country with much potential,we are so happy to be a part of this great organization.

CoEd is an excellent organization supporting education and literacy work in Guatemala. I have been a supporter for many years and have traveled to Guatemala to see their work in action. The organization has incredible leadership and staff. The impact of their programs on Guatemalan students and families is truly impressive! This is a top notch nonprofit.

A favorite part of Cooperative for Education for me is its investment in the future. Imagine living in an area that cannot afford to buy a book, a school and PTA cannot either. Imagine knowing you or your children are destined to drop out by the second or third grade. So, Cooperative for Education designed a rental program. The monies go into a revolving fund so that five years later, the books are replenished. It's worked for 25 years. - Rick S.

I have watched in and participated in CoEd now for 13 years and it continues to be an amazing organization that truly and strategically and tactically executes and gets results against its mission of supporting so many young children and their families in Guatemala break out of the cycle of poverty.

Cooperative for Education is a top-notch organization focused on education in Guatemala. I've been supporting "CoEd" for over 20 years and I can honestly say it is one of the best non-profits I've encountered. CoEd is fully committed to their cause and the enthusiasm of their staff and students speaks volumes. I cannot say enough about how impressed I am; and they have the data and awards to show just how well managed they are. Lives are changed every day thanks to Cooperative for Education!

Extremely effective model that maximizes impact and sustainability. Breaking the cycle of poverty through 3 killer education programs.

Our family has traveled to Guatemala with CoEd twice now. Their tours are so well organized and offer a blend of tourism and service. Spending time with the schoolchildren was a highlight of our time in country. They are proud to demonstrate the skills they learning.
The staff's passion for CoEd's mission is evident in everything they do! The impact of properly educating teachers and the sustainability of their programs is a large reason CoEd is having such profound success in Guatemala.
We look forward to our next trip to the "Land of Eternal Springs."

We have traveled to Guatemala twice with Cooperative for Education (CoEd). Both were amazing experiences. We had opportunities to interact with school kids of all ages, helped paint a school and simply enjoy the beauty of the Land of Eternal Spring. CoEd's staff was wonderful to work with and their passion for the children of Guatemala is evident in everything they do.

I had never thought about how one would be able to learn at school without textbooks or learn to read without reading material. That is typical school life in rural Guatemala. Cooperative for Education (CoEd) with help from the Guatemala Literacy Project has funded schools with textbooks, and computer centers. The schools agree to use fees to allow the books and computers to be repaired/replaced when needed. These are sustainable projects. So many of the rural teachers have no training in how to teach... until they are enrolled in a two-year training program by CoED. And because studies have shown that when kids graduate from high school, they almost always become free of poverty, there is the RISE scholarship and mentoring program. This organization has made an amazing impact in rural Guatemala!!!

Now is a very good time to go to Guatemala to better understand the country and how to help make the people of Guatemala more successful in their own country so that they do not want to move to the USA. The Cooperative for Education has a proven record of how their work with education has made a difference in the lives of people.

CoEd is by far the most organized and caring group I have ever traveled with. They use a common sense approach to administer their programs, and they care as much about the travelers as the indigenous people.

Amazing group of people making a major impact on literacy in Guatemala.

The week was a 100% positive experience for me. Thank you to the GLP for what you do in Guatemala and for creating the tour to allow us a window into what your wonderful work is all about.

Coed creates top quality opportunities for students and donors alike. The interactions we had while visiting will stay with us for a lifetime and feel like our student has been given the support she needs to be a success long term.

Coed is a wonderful organization creating real change. I really enjoyed participating in a service trip with them.

CoEd has developed a program to eliminate poverty in one generation through education. They have made it self sustaining so that it will impact future generations.

Our Helping Hands tour gave us a firsthand appreciation of CoEd's singular contributions to Guatemala's students and schools -- and its future. We worked alongside eager children and witnessed their creative, dedicated, CoEd-trained teachers. CoEd plans its projects with expertise and Guatemalan leadership and stays involved every step of the way, making sure their human and financial investments achieve their goals. The staff's knowledge, dedication, and professionalism are a model for any NGO. On top of that, the trip was fun and rewarding, with CoEd seeing to our care, feeding, entertainment, and enlightenment. This was our second Helping Hands tour, and far from our last.

My trip with Co-Ed to Guatemala was one of the best and most moving experiences of my life! Not only was the trip well-planned and executed, but I was blown away by the thoughtfulness of the staff and the thoroughness with which they approach the work they're doing at the schools they support, and that I get to support through them. I look forward to working with them many more times in the future.

This was my first time in Guatemala, first group tour, first volunteer trip. Boy, did I luck out. Incredibly professional, kind and passionate group of people. The accommodations, transportation, food and activities were all top-notch. A perfect balance of service work, fun, optional activities and down-time. I feel extremely fortunate to have met these folks, and through them a wonderful cross-section of Guatemalans. I'm used to traveling alone, but I'd do a Co-Ed trip again tomorrow if I could.

I just returned from watching the programs of Cooperative For Education being implemented in Guatemala. The staff went above and beyond in the planning of everything we participated in, watched, and heard, truly a gold standard for sustainable projects.

The Rotary Club of Calgary (Downtown) is proud to be associated with the Guatemalan Literacy Program. Being the foreign champion of the project implemented this year has given us immense satisfaction. The money has been used so effectively. Truly the gold standard in Rotary projects.

The work this organization is doing is exactly what the world needs. Education is truly the only way to understand others to create peace and reverse the cycle of poverty.

I traveled with Cooperative for Education to Guatemala to see their Guatemala Literacy Project in action, and I was totally impressed by what I saw. By providing books and computers to students, as well as teacher training to the teachers, CoEd is making a difference in breaking the cycle of poverty in Guatemala.

My family has been a supporter of Cooperative for Education (CoEd) since 2014. When we became aware of the organization and their mission, the first place we checked them out was on GuideStar. After getting great results from our review, we decided that CoEd would be a partner to invest with. Both of our daughters are Guatemalan by birth. CoEd gave us a vehicle to continue to positively impact the lives of children in Guatemala, especially young women, in a broader albeit shallower way than with our girls. Since our initial introduction, we have come to know many of the employees of CoEd. They are without exception the greatest group of folks we have ever been associated with, and we feel we are better people just for knowing them. There are a lot of very worthy organizations to donate to. But I don't know one more worthy than Cooperative for Education.

The staff is open and transparent. The staff of Cooperative fo Education live the mission of breaking the cycle of poverty through education.

I have been to Guatemala to see this project in action. I was so moved by it I returned with my wife. We have sponsored 3 students and I have traveled across the US to other Rotary clubs to tell them about this project. Breaking the cycle of poverty through education.

These folks do great work for the children of Guatemala!

COED made it possible for us to be able to help a Guatemalan girl become a nurse. This girl would not have been able to afford her education and is now working at a hospital and breaking away from poverty.

I just got back Monday and honestly could not have had a better experience. From the CoEd staff, learning about, and experiencing, CoEd’s programs and all the day to day logistics the group leaders managed was more than a 10/10. I could not have been more impressed with CoEd; this was definitely the best trip I have made to Central America! I couldn't feel more confident about supporting the work CoEd is doing in Guatemala to help children break the cycle of poverty. Thanks again.

A really wonderful mix of tourism and service. Guatemala is wonderful and you see some great parts of it, even during the relatively short snapshot tour. But you also get real time in the schools with the kids and the families and the teachers and it's a truly moving experience. An easy-to-access, wonderfully curated tour with fun fellow travelers and committed guides-- cannot ask for much more!

CoEd is doing great things for Guatemala and its children – providing reading libraries and teacher training, textbooks and teacher training, computer labs and teacher training, and scholarships to attend high school. The staff listens to local requests to be included in CoEd’s outreach and then coordinates with the Ministry of Education, the local community, the teaching staff, the parents, and the students to lead a truly cooperative effort. As a Rotarian I am proud that Rotary has partnered with CoEd in The Guatemala Literacy Project and I plan to continue to support CoEd’s efforts.

Our family spent an amazing week with Cooperative for Education ("CoEd") on their Heritage Tour. CoEd's staff was professional and personable every step of the way. The work CoEd has done and continues to do in the schools and with the students in Guatemala is inspirational. CoEd truly is using education opportunities and programs to help the people of Guatemala rise from poverty. We are grateful to have gone on the Heritage Tour and our son, a Guatemalan adoptee, felt a deep connection with his country and his heritage through CoEd's school visits, staff interaction and the many additional activities on the tour. CoEd will always be part of our family's connection with our beloved Guatemala and we are inspired and impressed with the good work they do in Guatemala.

Our family traveled with CoEd to Guatemala on their first Heritage Tour from August 2-6, 2017. We brought our youngest who is twelve and we adopted from Guatemala as an infant, and our two older children.

The trip was a wonderful mix of family fun, travel with a group of families with adopted Guatemalan children and a dynamic group of CoEd staff members.

We were able to see the country, learn about its history and travel to schools that CoEd sponsors.

The most overwhelming part of the trip occurred when we made visits to two CoEd schools. We were greeting like rock starts and then humbled by their gratitude.

I was impressed by their understanding of the importance of education and the motivation of both the students, their teachers and their parents. They see that the pathway out of poverty is through education.

I strongly encourage anyone who is interested in traveling to a beautiful country, learning about their culture and being involved with a group that is truly changing lives to consider traveling with CoEd to Guatemala. It will change your life perhaps as much as it is changing the lives of those we are trying to help.

We attended the Heritage Tour and LOVED IT!! The staff were well prepared, respectful of our children, and made everyone feel comfortable and safe. The school visits were incredible and heartwarming. One can really see the impact of the work of CoEd in action and appreciate it at a deep level. Bravo!

CoEd does amazing, measurable, very effective work for aspiring students in Guatemala. Their Culture of Reading programs and support of scholarship students to study past sixth grade are bolstered by a talented Guatemalan staff on the ground and active, energetic leaders in Cincinnati. Our visits with Guatemalan students at their schools and in their homes made very clear the enormous challenges of going to school in Guatemala and the fantastic hope and support CoEd provides. We are so happy to be involved in this organization!

CoEd's work in Guatemala is making a difference in the lives of thousands of children, providing access to education and the resources that will give them a bright future. I highly recommend taking a tour with CoEd to see firsthand the work that they are doing!

I recently returned from a Cooperative for Education Snapshot Tour in Guatemala. It was a life-changing experience for my daughter and me. CoEd does an amazing job! I am in awe as I continue to learn more and more about the sustainable programming they have successfully implemented to improve educational opportunities for boys and girls in rural Guatemala. The Snapshot Tour is an inside look at those programs, the students they serve, and the breathtaking country of Guatemala. The CoEd trip feels like a very well organized family vacation!

I love this nonprofit! I know an employee of this organization, have met most of the staff, and attended their annual Fall Fiesta fundraiser. This nonprofit is full of people working for the greater good. Their entire team is phenomenally talented and could likely use their talents to make more money for themselves (and a big corporation) in the private sector, but they have chosen the righteous path working to educate the youth in Guatemala.

The work of this organization has a ripple effect. Just giving these children the ability to read exponentially gives them increased opportunity in life. CoEd has raised money for and installed computer labs in villages where almost all of the community would have gone their whole lives without even seeing a computer let alone having the opportunity to use one. I cannot commend this organization enough for the work they are doing. The money CoEd raises is put to use effectively to put children with limited opportunity through school and to improve the quality of education throughout Guatemala. Donors can witness firsthand the change their contribution is making by taking a trip to Guatemala with CoEd to visit the student(s) they are sponsoring. Every dollar donated to these children in Guatemala is an exercise in effective altruism.

EVERYONE in the organization has hearts of gold! I feel inspired to help out as much as I can.

COED runs on passion and efficiency in a way that is unparalleled in my experience. The tours are life changing for all involved. All the COED programs are designed for maximum impact to change the cycle of poverty.

The work that Cooperative for Education is doing is truly making a difference in the student's lives by providing them with a future. It's giving them the opportunity to finish a school, find a job, and possibly encourage their siblings to follow in their footsteps and continue with their schooling, thus breaking the cycle of poverty in their family.

Cooperative For Education is a non profit that empowers Guatrmalan students and advances their potential. The hardworking staff make sure that donations get funneled to the students. They are creative in exciting and educational ways in gathering those donations. Those of us who have gone on book delivery tours etc. are also empowered. Nothing makes a situation more real than joining a person in their life, community and environment for a while. A name, a face, a smile, an attempt at conversation and new textbooks. This is authentic caring.

After attending their Snapshot Tour in Guatemala earlier this year, I have a greater personal understanding of the direct impact which this organization has in breaking the cycle of poverty. I continue to be impressed by their professional approach and their care for both the people who benefit from their efforts and for those who continue to support them. CoEd's annual fun(d)raising event has become THE best in town and continues to attract donors from across the country. Kudos CoEd!!

My husband and I traveled with the Cooperative for Education (CoED) on a Snapshot Tour, and it was like nothing we have experienced before. We loved getting to see firsthand the difference that CoEd is making in Guatemala. Through learning about Guatemalan culture and history, going to the schools, watching students perform, and interacting directly with students we fell in love with Guatemala and CoEd. The Guatemalan people we met were humble, joyful, and genuinely grateful for CoEd and their supporters. We personally saw that CoEd is fulfilling their mission in Guatemala of breaking the cycle of poverty through education, and we are now their biggest fans.