The impact of Safe Passage is rooted in our educational model– Expeditionary Learning. 

In 2012, Safe Passage realized that the most effective way to change the future of students in our community was to open our own school. This came after much debate and research, but it was clear that public schools in our region proved woefully inadequate, especially to meet the particular learning and social needs of marginalized youth in an area where only 1 in 3 residents have attended school. Two years later, extensive research was conducted,  to find an educational model that could best meet the needs and reality of our students and their families, led us to. Expeditionary Learning (EL), a model developed by the Harvard Graduate School of Education and Outward Bound, designed explicitly for marginalized communities in the US. 

Safe Passage is the only school implementing EL in Guatemala, adapting the design principles to the unique cultural, linguistic, and community needs of the communities surrounding the Guatemala City garbage dump.

The EL educational approach impacts student learning through quality education focusing on developing academic skills and character. The foundational principle of engaging students in profound, meaningful work that challenges them to learn through real-world application, teamwork, and active exploration inspired Safe Passage to start implementation in the 3rd and 4th grades in the Hanley Denning Experimental School in 2015. 

Expeditionary Learning engages students in extended projects, called Expeditions, that are often interdisciplinary and involve academic subjects and real-world contexts. This includes exploration outside the classroom, collaborative learning, high academic expectations, reflection on their work, and revisions based on feedback.  

The model is based on ten design principles that impact character with emphasis placed on personal qualities such as resilience, responsibility, empathy, and perseverance. 

Since EL implementation started in 2015, we have seen its impressive impact on student achievement and their whole person. Better academic performance in reading comprehension and learning skills is shown through annual assessments, which are benchmarked to international standards. And maybe more importantly, increased engagement in learning has led to better retention of knowledge and its application to real-world situations. The problem-solving opportunities that EL builds facilitate students’ development of critical thinking, creativity, and confidence in their unique potential and academic capacity.

Social-emotional learning is another key area, positively impacted by EL. Students are building their capacity for leadership and resilience.  They work together, manage conflict, and communicate more effectively. They develop agency and have taken ownership of their learning process. By making decisions, developing leadership skills, and becoming responsible for their academic outcomes, our students are building the skills that will drive success throughout their lives.  Students see the relevance of their learning because they are more aware of how their work can make a difference in their community. 

EL Education has also transformed the school’s culture at Safe Passage. Teachers have engaged in continuous learning, reflection, and collaboration, enhancing their teaching practices. A culture of quality, student-centered, and inquiry-based pedagogy is at the core of our learning philosophy, and it is carried throughout our organizational culture. Our learning community, students, teachers, parents, and staff work together to create a solid school culture of collaboration, respect, and high expectations.

In its 9th year of implementation at Safe Passage, only paused by the COVID-19 pandemic, EL Education has shown an incredible impact on student achievement, both academically and personally. Every year, our students prove themselves to be better prepared to succeed in high school and far, far beyond.