Welcome to Bezaleel

Bezaleel is the K'ekchi' Mennonite Education Center located in San Juan Chamelco, a town in the province of Alta Verapaz in north-central Guatemala (see map on left). Bezaleel is a school dedicated to forming leaders from among the K'ekchi', one of 22 indigenous groups in Guatemala.

Bezaleel began with the goal of providing a transformational, holistic, bilingual educational experience for 160 K'ekchi' youth by offering primary and secondary education along with vocational training. While the goal has not changed, Bezaleel now only offers secondary education with vocational training. The value and dignity of the K'ekchi' history and culture is emphasized in order to empower the youth and thus form future leaders for the development and betterment of K'ekchi' communities.

"See, I have chosen Bezaleel .... and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts-to make artistic designs fro work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of craftsmanship." -Exodus 31: 2-5, New International Version