In El Salvador, Jardín de Acuarelas (Watercolor Garden School) began with the dream of two very unlikely visionaries. This wasn’t from a teacher or even a parent—it was from two siblings Carlitos and Yancita, ages 15 and 12. Their mother, the current school director, recounts the genesis of the school: “Our school began with a dream of my husband and my two children, Carlitos and Yancita, who wanted to help children in our community with limited resources. They desired to bring the Gospel to Salvadoran children.”
The Genesis
Sylvia, the mother of Carlitos and Yancita, typically gave each of them a certain amount of money every month to teach them financial lessons. Occasionally, she would ask how much they had spent or saved. One month, they both confessed to having spent everything—not with shame, but with pride. They had spent it all on a local woman who regularly sold popsicles near the neighborhood stadium. Seeing the woman’s poor health, they couldn’t help but buy every popsicle in her stand. Sylvia was floored, simultaneously proud and shocked by this great act of kindness from her children. As they discussed the needs of their community, Carlitos and Yancita began to wonder about the many children living in similar conditions, especially those without an education. Soon, the family created a plan: to resell the popsicles and raise additional funds to open a local, private Christ-centered school named Jardín de Acuarelas.
“We prayed a lot and put it in God’s hands when we went to the Ministry of Education. God put the right person in, and we presented the documentation in May 2000.” By June 2000, the dream became a reality as Watercolor Garden’s doors opened in the municipality of Chiltiuán, serving learners from one to six years old. The school was marked by family effort, with the two siblings creating the uniform logo, distributing pamphlets, and painting large murals to brighten the school’s walls. The family came together in new ways throughout the following year, thriving despite being surrounded by several established schools and serving just over 20 learners.
Beginning Again
However, tragedy struck in 2001 when an earthquake hit. Sylvia shares with a heavy heart, “Every activity and dream stopped due to the loss of the lives of my two dreamers: my children. I lost my entire family. When this happened, I did not want anything from life. My dreams, hopes, children, and loves were gone. It was not easy, but at that time, something wonderful happened that could only come from God, and I had to start from scratch with a vision and faith in God.”
One night, while she slept, the Lord spoke to her through a dream of her children playing happily in a garden with crayons, pencils, and large blackboards, welcoming all aspiring artists with open canvases. This dream reignited a spark within her—recalling how it all began—and God gave her the strength to continue the vision her children had started. In January 2002, Sylvia began anew, step by step, with a vision of helping children with scarce resources in San Salvador, El Salvador. As she did, “God provided confirmation at each step.”
While Sylvia and her staff were painting the walls of their new school, parents from the community began to flock to the school, requesting to enroll their children even though enrollment for the school year had not yet opened. When the school year began later that year, Watercolor Garden School had 90 learners enrolled—a testament to God’s perfect plans and provision.
The Right Parter
The team heard about Edify through the ACPES (Association of Private Schools of El Salvador). Sylvia recalls receiving an invitation for Edify training, “which I couldn’t believe—because there is no other organization investing in improving educational quality and Christian transformation in private schools.” With the help of this partnership, Watercolor Garden School persevered through COVID-19 and continued working virtually with 20 students, returning face-to-face with 30.
Watercolor Garden School has thrived as an Edify partner since joining the Core Program in December 2023. From learning to implement school improvement plans to strengthening the school’s values, Sylvia has seen the teachers grow in their teaching methods and Christian values.
Today, the school serves 50 learners and employs five teachers, distinguishing itself from neighboring public schools by providing Christ-centered education. “The fight has been strong, and we have not stopped trusting in God. We pray for divine support and wisdom to guide the children in the way of Christ, for our entire educational community to be saved, for financial solvency, for maintaining enrollment, and for our children not to be withdrawn,” Sylvia shares.
The Power of ‘Yes’
When Sylvia said ‘yes’ to Watercolor Garden School, she embraced not only her children’s dreams but also God’s dreams and plans for her entire community. This resolve to continue despite hardships has brought her to where she is today. Thousands of school proprietors around the world have given this same ‘yes.’ As they bring Christ-centered education to their communities, Edify stands alongside them in bringing about Flourishing Godly Nations.