The Centro Escolar Canton Ojo de Agua, is a new school located high on top of a mountain named El Aguila (The Eagle) in a small, remote community surrounded by natural forests and coffee fields.   This community overlooks the spectacular Salvadoran landscape of mountains and volcanoes and is home to approximately 70 families who currently live without running water or electricity. 
 
When we first met the members of this community in December of 2006, it seemed like God had forgotten them. A nearby coffee farm, where many people had earned their income in years past, was now abandoned. There was barely any access to medicine, and in order to travel to school, children had to walk nearly 2 hours every day on terrain that is difficult for even a 4-wheel drive to maneuver. These families lived without many things most people take for granted, but what was not lacking was a sense of excitement, love, and eagerness to make a difference in their own lives.  
 
The school was built with local labor and materials paid for by the SQ Foundation, and SQ also provides the teacher’s salary. This sweet little school now educates 45 children, with the parents and other adults asking for night school to help them to learn to read and write.  Many of these adults were not afforded the same opportunities the children now have.
 
One mother, Lillian Garcia, 37, has been living in the community for 19 years.
She has 6 children between the ages of 5 and 18. Her daughter Angela, 11, and son Miguel, 9, both attend the school—in fact they live right next to it! Before the new school existed Lillian had to walk her children down the mountain and pick them up to a far-off school every morning—a trip that took 2 hours.  Some days she was forced to send her young children to make the long and arduous trip on their own so she could work to support her family. Since the new school opened, she herself is learning to read through the help of her daughter! She says,
 
“We were so happy, thanking God and you. I feel good having the school nearby. It’s such an honor for our community. It’s no small task to do this and we are so grateful. I want my children to study, more education is important for them. I didn’t have the opportunity to study, so for them to have this opportunity is so important. My daughter helps me to read what I can’t manage. She helps me a lot. She has a lot of patience to teach and show me.”
 
Her daughter Angela is a beautiful girl who is blossoming with the love of her teacher. She says, “My favorite subject is reading. I like having the school nearby. It’s a really nice school. Thank you for putting the effort to make this school for us.”
Building and running the Centro Escolar Canton Ojo de Agua was made possible by the cooperation of SQ Foundation and the local community members working together.  Maria del Carmen, one of the children’s mothers who shares the cooking responsibilities at the new school, said, “I am so proud to have the school, thank you for supporting us and our children.” 
 
It’s our pleasure, and our privilege.