Our Story

It is incredible how one  idea can grow into something truly special. The Santa Elena Project of Accompaniment (SEPA)  is rooted in the belief that we all have an inherent responsibility to make a meaningful difference in the world . With the direction of the two villages' governance committees, SEPA provides assistance to those villages in Guatemala.  

Since our founding in 1997, we have been proud to witness how our activities have benefitted the Guatemalan community and beyond.  Initially in 1997, human rights observers, accompaniers, lived with the returning refugees in Santa Elena and CopalAA in order to forestall violent human rights violations.  As the political situation changed, SEPA has remained flexible and has continued to raise funds to be used as determined by the villages themselves. The committed relationships with these two indigenous refugee villages in northwestern Guatemala has helped to prevent human rights violations and has allowed these communities to build a self-directed infrastructure and educate their children.  

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Education remains extremely important to the villagers.  There is a strong support for the schools among the adults of the villages.  There is a loving family atmosphere among the teachers and students.