Students for Playgrounds

The mission of Students for Playgrounds is to fundraise $13,000 to build an accessible playground at Centro de Educación Especial Alida España de Arana in Guatemala City. 

Alida España de Arana is the only government run, special education school for children and teens with disabilities in all of Guatemala City. Alida España de Arana’s play areas are lacking and unable to accommodate their students. Also, many of the children who attend Alida España de Arana come from the surrounding garbage dump communities and do not have routine access to safe, clean, or accessible play areas. 

Our program seeks to involve people, especially students, of all backgrounds and ages in spreading awareness about the humanitarian crisis in Guatemala City and in fundraising for this initiative. All children deserve to be able to play, and we hope to bring to these children the joy and community that it provides.

Our Goal

Our goal is to raise $6,500, half of the funds necessary to build the playground, by the end of this summer.

About the School

Centro de Educación Especial Alida España de Arana is a school dedicated to serving boys and girls, aged 0-14, who have intellectual disabilities, physical disabilities, sensory-hearing disabilities, or more than one disability. Alida España de Arana offers services that include language therapy, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, hydrotherapy, social work, and more. 

Alida España de Arana is the only school that serves children and teens with disabilities and special needs in the entire Guatemala City metropolitan area of about 2.7 million people. This school is a special place that needs our help. 

Click here for more information: https://www.sbs.gob.gt/alida-espana-de-arana/

About the Leaders of Students For Playgrounds 

Hi, our names are Eve and Sophie Hoeltgen, and we are so excited to be working with HOPE’S IN this summer. Eve is a rising sophomore at Southern Methodist University majoring in political science and history; Sophie is a rising sophomore at Boston College majoring in international studies. Apart from academics, we both are a part of the cross country and track teams at our schools. This summer, we are working on a project called Students for Play in which we will be fundraising to build a handicap accessible playground at the only school for children and teens with disabilities in all of Guatemala City. This project is important to us because as athletes and students we recognize the physical, mental and emotional value of playing, exercising, and interacting with peers.