Susan Schmaltz had countless dreams telling her she needed to be in Guatemala. After convincing her husband Richard to accompany her, they began learning about the reality that many Guatemalans face. After beginning many initiatives to support people living in poverty, Susan realized that education was the answer. With support from Richard, multiple volunteers in Ottawa and Pembroke, and current Guatemalan Director Madeli Quiñonez, the Planting Seeds Methodology and Philosophy was born and hasn’t stopped growing.
Planting Seeds International Timeline
2017
Planting Seeds implements seven child, youth, and adult-centered programs in Guatemala City
2017
Oneness Through Service Guatemala officially changes its name to Planting Seeds International
2015
Planting Seeds supports REKKO to implement the Planting Seeds methodology in their early childhood center.
2015
Planting Seeds develops a partnership with Association REKKO. Partnership provides all students and families of Planting Seeds programs free medical care at REKKO facility in Antigua.
2014
Richard and Susan Schmaltz retire to Canada
2014
Planting Seeds Methodology is accredited by Guatemalan Department of Education to teach children from Preschool to Grade Six
2014
San Lucas Preschool and Teacher Training Center Opens
2013
New school built in Tioxya to house two Planting Seeds preschool programs Planting Seeds becomes an official non-profit organization in Guatemala
2013
Sacala Los Lomas Water Project reaches successful completion – clean water available to all citizens of the community
2011
First annual conference held for 100 public school teachers to explain and demonstrate The Planting Seeds Philosophy of child centered, activity based education
2011
Planting Seeds Teachers Association is formed.
2008
Oneness develops partnership with Niños de Guatemala to implement two pre-schools in Cuidad Vieja.
2004
Teams of Service travel to Guatemala annually to build furniture for new classrooms.
2004
Camino Seguro and Oneness partnership expands to provide a six room daycare center funded by Accesso International.
2003
Partnership is formed with Camino Seguro in Guatemala City to operate two-room preschool pilot program next to the Guatemala City garbage dump
2003
Set up new classrooms in January and February at Camino Seguro and Tioxya Planting Seeds International members and volunteers commit to undertake the planning, engineering, and funding for digging a well and bringing water to the mountain village of Sacala
2003
Partnership is formed with Camino Seguro in Guatemala City to operate two-room preschool pilot program next to the Guatemala City garbage dump
2003
Oneness (now Planting Seeds International) is formed to support those in extreme poverty. Works on developing high quality education and supporting communities in need.
2001
Preschool program started in Sacala Los Lomas. Clean water project investigated for the community by a group of Canadian volunteers.
