BACKGROUND
The school was started in 1987 by Kari Engen for 50 students in a rented building next to the garbage dump in Zone 7. In 1990, a second building in Zone 3 was rented and the school expanded.
The original Zone 7 building was purchased in 1991 and converted into a trade school. In 1995 a 12-acre property, with numerous buildings, was purchased in San Pedro to replace the rented Zone
3 building. The San Pedro property is 15 miles from the Guatemala City garbage dump so the children are bused to the school.
The Zone 7 building is now used for nursery and pre-school classes, teacher living quarters and as the bus depot. The school has a current capacity of 250 students.
Donations can be mailed to:
Mi Refugio, Guatemala
c/o Harry Engen
4908 Jasmine Drive
Rockville, MD 20853-1632
Online Donations can be made by clicking this link
Donations processed through Arts and Sciences Publishing 100% of funds go to Mi Refugio
We are going back in 2008 February 29th to March 8th!
Photos from March 2007 Mission Trips and Medical Mission
In March 2007 teams from Trinity United Methodist Church in Frederick, Maryland and Friendship United Methodist Church in Friendship, Maryland visited Mi Refugio. They were joined by Dennis and LJ from Illinois, and a team of nursing faculty and students from Florida Gulf Coast University.
The group ran a sewing class, performed some construction and maintenance, ran medical clinics at Mi Refugio and three other locations, distubuted clothing, and entertained the children and performed as clowns at the medical clinics.
Sewing Classes
Mi Refugio has a classroom equiped with about 20 Singer treddle sewing machines. In this classroom a team of sewing experts and quilters ran daily classes teaching the children to use these machines. In the afternoon some of the children brought their parents in also learn. The town near Mi Refugio, San Pedro Sacatepéquez has several businesses that produce clothing, so sewing is an important employable skill. The classes provided a great opportunity for the instructors to interact closely with the children, and a lot of fun was had by all.
Medical Clinics
Three faculty members and eight nursing students from Florida held clinics at Mi Refugio, outside the Guatemala City,dump, and in schools in the towns of Pahoques and Cruz Blanco. Over 700 patients were seen from 3 months to age 82. In addition to the students at the school, people from the communities, some walking for miles were treated.
Other mission trips
Mission trips to Mi Refugio are led three times a year. In March, June, and September. They involve minor construction and maintenance at the school, teaching at the school, medical and dental clinics, and clothing distribution.
2005 trip Northest Bible-To see a description and pictures of the mission trip of Northwest Bible Church, Hillard, Ohio
Read about a trip planned by students from Bucknell University.
Click Here and read a News Article
June 2006 trip Click Here
