Hands and Hearts Together: Creating a Playground at Colegio Mesoamericano

Building Connections through Play: A New Playground for Colegio Mesoamericano

For over 20 years, our beloved playground at Colegio Mesoamericano has been a cherished space where laughter echoes and friendships blossom. However, as the years passed, it began to show its age, despite our efforts to maintain it. Our playground had become more than just an area of play; it was a place where students could forge connections with each other. Serving around 400 students from K-12, including 78 scholarship students, we knew it was time for a change. 

A Serendipitous Meeting

The journey to a new playground began in a truly unexpected way. Raquel Salazar, our president of the Meso Foundation, was spending a day in Antigua when she met some people from CAUKIN Studio, an organization that designs projects for schools and communities. As they talked, they realized that their goals aligned perfectly: we needed a new playground, and CAUKIN Studio had the expertise to help design it. Designing with Nature in Mind The collaboration with CAUKIN Studio was a perfect match. Both parties shared a vision of integrating natural elements into the playground design, creating a space that harmonized with the existing trees on our campus. The result was a thoughtfully designed playground that not only ensured the safety and skill development of our children but also encouraged them to connect with each other and with nature.

Community Support and Fundraising

Our school community united to champion this project. Parents, students, teachers, and local community members gathered for a lively fundraising event at our school. Together, we celebrated the significance of the new playground and honored its importance by engaging in a variety of games. It was heartwarming to see parents playing with their kids, alumni reconnecting like old times, friends coming together, and even grandparents enjoying the games and watching their families play. This event truly highlighted how games can strengthen connections among families and friends. Thanks to their heartfelt contributions, we successfully raised Q30,000 (about $4,000) towards the $11,800 needed for the playground materials.

Building Together

Despite the still need of funding for materials, this July and August, we are welcoming volunteers from around the world, brought together by CAUKIN Studio, to help make our dream a reality. Our dedicated parents are also donating their time and effort to build the playground, showcasing the power of community and collective action. 

Join Us in Building a Brighter Future

At first glance, this may seem like the construction of just another playground, but it is so much more. It is an example of human connection and how a shared goal can bring a school, a community, and even the world together as one. This project is still not over, we are still in the process of making it a reality. We invite you to join us in this endeavor. Help us spread the word or donate, and become part of the journey. Your donation will directly contribute to creating a space where our children can explore, learn, play, and grow. It will help foster problem-solving skills, creativity, social skills, and physical development in a nurturing environment. By donating, you’ll also receive regular updates on the project’s progress and a heartfelt thank-you letter from our students. Donate now and help us reach our goal! Together, we can build a brighter future for our community.