Our Mission

Meso Foundation is a non-profit dedicated to empowering the native people of Guatemala with opportunities.

Give Monthly

Fight Oppression

We connect with locals and stand as a voice for those who are voiceless, and with strength for those who need support.

Provide Tools

The right tools or specific skills can mean the advantage that facilitates equal opportunities.

Pave Paths

We create better opportunities through our social businesses - it creates a better tomorrow for all involved.

A better Guatemala

"We dream of a country where the resource of human labor is honored, respected, and not exploited. Where the rise of technology is received as a respite, and gives way to business opportunities with creative and holistic solutions that turn into meaningful jobs. Where children have the opportunity to access an education that stimulates, shelters, and prepares them to lead and problem solve for the current world affairs. Where ancient wisdom of food and land is restored and respected. Where the natives of the land are honored for their past and present strengths in being the keepers of a culture that has marveled scientists for thousands of years."

Raquel and Julio Salazar

Our Journey

Our vision for a better Guatemala isn’t new, but it has definitely evolved over the past 20 years. As we learn and grow, we find creative ways to leverage projects and social businesses to impact more lives across Guatemala. 

1998

The very beginning

The Fundación Rose is established with the mission of educating children in Guatemala.

Step one of a thousand steps

Classes at Colegio Mesoamericano start with 79 students using cinder blocks and plywood for desks. We began the hard work of converting an old mattress factory in Chimaltenango, Guatemala into an effective learning environment.

1999

Our second school

Support for our approach to education grows. We opened a second school in country side of Guatemala, in the town of Patzicía.

2000

Our third school

A third school in Momostenango opens, and our reputation for child-centered learning gains traction.

2006

First high school graduation

Our first class of students graduates high school – 9 students who paved the way for our current average of 112 graduates each year.

2010

Momostenango is sold

Global financial trouble impacts our endowment and we are forced to sell our Momostenango campus.

2018

Patcizia is sold

Hoping to invest in our aging original campus, we choose to sell the Patcizia school to a likeminded organization.

Meso Foundation is formed

Meso Foundation is reorganized and established in the United States with renewed energy and a vision of empowering the native people of Guatemala.

2019

Meso Foundation operates out of Guatemala

Raquel and her family move to Guatemala to help organize efforts, connect to our local leadership teams and to our partners on the ground.

2020

Enter COVID-19

As Guatemala enters lockdown, Colegio Mesoamericano moves classes online via Google Classroom. Together with our admin team, we create curiosity challenges on our school Facebook groups to keep our students and teachers connected during the pandemic.

Project Indigo launches at Meso

In the middle of COVID-19, we launched Indigo, our emotional intelligence based curriculum. With our team psychologist we successfully pilot our first 12 weeks of Indigo classes at Colegio Mesoamericano.

2021

We launch our first social business!

Pixel Productions comes to life. An online marketing agency creating opportunities for local Guatemalan creatives.

Partnership with Redmond

We formalize our partnership with Redmond, Inc., a Utah based company on a mission to elevate the human experience. Redmond offers a 1:1 matching program for Redmond associates who donate to Colegio Mesoamericano’s Scholarship Program.