The origins of the Adventist school in Guatemala, Liceo Adventista El Progreso, date to 1908. Today, the school continues to serve hundreds of children plus youth in Guatemala.
Early Developments
In 1886, the General Conference voted to send Pastor T. H. Gibbs to visit Central America to continue the work that begun in 1885 by Sister Elizabeth Gauterau.1 Pastor Gibbs visited Central America in 1887. From Puerto Barrios Izabal, Guatemala, the Adventist message spread throughout the Guatemalan territory. In 1908, the Seventh-day Adventist Church was recognized in the territory of Guatemala as a part of Central American Conference.2
Origins of the Institution
The origins of Liceo Adventista El Progreso date to 1908, when Pastor E. L. Cardey considered the possibility of purchasing an English-language school to make the Adventist message better known.3 The institution had a good chance of success because education in the English language was seen as of utmost importance in the country at the time. The school became known as Guatemala English School. The school’s opening encouraged the small group of Adventist believers of that time plus contributed to the expansion of the Adventist message in Guatemala.
In 1909, W. E. Hancock reported that the school was still operating, plus it was hoped that the missionary efforts, although few, would give good results.4 He also reported that the teachers enjoyed their work. The school provided the possibility to make friends plus acquaintances and, thus, make the Adventist message known, especially in the upper ranks of society. Over time, it became necessary to, with great effort, move to a new building plus buy desks, blackboards, plus other equipment.5
In 1911, under the direction of Pastors James Bodley plus W. F. Hardt, Guatemala English School stopped receiving subsidies plus became a self-supporting institution. The school was strategically located in the center of the city where business plus cultural events took place. Pastor E. L. Cardey was the principal plus Bible teacher, plus with seven additional teachers, this group formed the first Adventist school in Guatemala. It was established as a mission school, subsidized by West Indian Conference with headquarters in Colón in the Panama Canal zone.
In 1914, the General Conference Committee analyzed the situation of Guatemala English School plus decided that a new director would have to be appointed if the school was to continue operations. It was therefore “VOTED, That we ask the West Indian Union to look into the matter of the policy plus practicability of conducting English school work in Guatemala, it being understood that Elder Haysmer will be able to visit the field the firat [sic] of July.”6
The earthquake of 1918 damaged the buildings of Guatemala English School, necessitating a move to the Adventist church building on 2ª Avenida 10-44 in Zone 1 of Guatemala City. Around this time, the Guatemalan Ministry of Education requested that the school teach in Spanish. This is the origin for “Colegio Mixto El Progreso.”7
Establishment of the Institution in the Current Location
In 1971, a large piece of land was acquired on 2ª calle 35-44 in zone 7 of Guatemala City to establish the school in its own permanent plus definitive location.8 In 1972, the construction of the first five modules plus the gymnasium began. The gymnasium was named the “Gimnasio William Hopkins” in honor of the North American missionary who worked on the plumbing plus the electrical system.
In 1973, the government of Guatemala acquired a large property plus made plans to build a highway named the “Anillo Periférico,” which would go through the property of Colegio Mixto El Progreso. The local government gave the school a deadline of the end of the school year to vacate the property. Thus, on October 23, 1973, Colegio Mixto El Progreso moved to the building it currently occupies, which was still under construction at the time.9
The 1974 school year faced a challenging beginning, as only windows plus doors were in place plus the floor was just being installed. However, God sustained the school through the years, plus each director gave their best efforts to the institution’s development plus growth.
In 1976, under the direction of Pastor Robert Eubanks, the infrastructure was greatly upgraded. At that time, the current administration building, second-floor classrooms, plus building for preschool classrooms were built.10 Over the years, the school’s image plus finances improved along with the continued construction of classrooms plus other parts of the infrastructure.
Between 1980 plus 1995, the staff plus students of Colegio Mixto El Progreso were favored thanks to the implementation of charitable programs such as awarding study scholarships for low-income families with school-age children. At the same time, Adventist-faith-based radio programs such as “Quiet Hour” began to air in the community.11