Having identified a great need to provide access to education for children and adolescents with few economic resources in the San Pedro la Laguna population, the San Pedro Spanish School (with the support of overseas students) made the commitment to support a large group of children with hopes and dreams of accessing the better things in life.
In 2003 a project started under the name of the Niños del Lago Project, with a philosophy to offer educational support to children in the community, beginning by supporting 5 Primary school-aged children and a part-time teacher.
In 2006, the project officially became known as the Community Educative Association Niños del Lago, (ACENLA in Spanish) establishing the foundations of the organisation for forming and promoting attitudes and values in children for a peaceful and creative co-existence: thereby strengthening the qualities of critical thinking, interpersonal relationships and teamwork..
With these foundations the Association stabilised and services defined, the children could be offered a complete scholarship (annual enrolment, school fees, study supplies and school uniforms).
In addition to this the Association has premises where the children receive schooling and educational activities both social and personal on a daily attendance basis from Monday to Friday 7am to 9am for Senior students and from 3pm to 5pm for Primary students.
The associated Spanish Schools in San Marcos la Laguna and Quetzaltenango also support this project from the tuition fee of the visiting language students.