Friends of the Miguel Angel Asturias Academy

The Miguel Angel Asturias Academy was founded in 1994 to address Guatemala's educational crisis.  According to UN numbers 20% of Guatemalans do not enter school at all and less than 10% will graduate high school.  This educational inequity is exacerbated by racism, sexism and classism.  Using popular education which urges students to transform their reality and technical education which gives low-income youth a foothold in the economy the Asturias Academy is transforming Guatemala through education.  Currently with one campus, it is our vision to put one school in every department (22) in Guatemala and then pressure the public system for reform.

Jorge Chojolan is the founder and executive director of the Miguel Angel Asturias Academy, located in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala.  Growing up in poverty and overcoming discrimination due to his Maya K’iche heritage, he earned both a teaching degree as well as an economics degree from the University of San Carlos.  Mr. Chojolan has worked for educational rights since his youth.  Twice exiled during the Guatemalan Civil War for his work in education, Jorge returned to Guatemala to make his country a better place.  He is currently working on building his school into a nationwide network of alternative schools.