by Mónica Lara

Have you ever been genuinely moved by an experience?

Several months ago, Pete Noll, Child Aid’s Chief Development Officer, invited me on a week-long trip to visit schools in rural, indigenous communities in Guatemala. Child Aid (child-aid.org) is a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing child literacy through teacher training, classroom resources, and reading programs.

Having previously visited schools in Mexico and Honduras, I anticipated finding passionate teachers, eager students, adherence to school guidelines, and limited resources. While these assumptions were correct—I certainly saw passionate teachers and students who welcomed us with inquisitive attitudes and love—my week in Guatemala proved to be much more profound.

As I reflect on the experience, three powerful words capture the essence of what I witnessed: Commitment, Passion, and Hope.

Commitment

The work of every teacher reflected a deep commitment to their students and their profession. They dedicate long hours to planning and preparing instruction. Beyond that, they are also committed learners themselves. For years, they have diligently trained with Child Aid staff to implement effective literacy practices, aiming to improve instructional delivery and develop avid readers. Visible indicators of this commitment are everywhere: “el rincón de lectura” (the reading corner), “la pared/el muro de vocabulario” (the vocabulary wall), “el mapa del cuento” (the story map), and “el esquema de escritura” (the writing framework), all highlighting the importance of “el proceso de la lectoescritura” (the literacy process). As one sign read: “Si quieres una aventura, lánzate a la lectura.” (If you want an adventure, launch yourself into reading.)

Furthermore, educators actively participate in a coaching cycle. They are trained by coaches who implement pre-conferences, observations, and post-conferences. A unique difference is that feedback is often given immediately after the lesson, with students present. These students understand how to behave and not interrupt the coach-teacher interaction, eliminating the need for a substitute.

Passion

All you need is to look at the faces of the teachers and children. Teachers love teaching, and students love learning. Teachers passionately welcome their students and celebrate the advances in their performance—from non-readers blossoming into avid readers, and from non-writers to students who author their own books. Thanks to Child Aid and its donors, students receive books in their classrooms and are passionate about the stories they are hearing.

Teachers have also learned to read with passion. They practice prosody, modeling for their students how reading with intonation and expression enhances reading comprehension. For this passion to continue, however, classrooms urgently need sets of books so every child can hold a text in their hands, rather than straining to see a small book held by a teacher walking around a classroom of 25+ students.

Hope

Despite the many challenges Guatemalan children have experienced—from war and genocide to poverty and discrimination—educators and students possess profound hope.

They have hope for literacy, recognizing that finishing school is a key answer for success. They have hope that one day their culture will be embraced and their dialects will not become extinct, holding deep love and pride for their communities. They have hope that one day they will obtain a visa to enter the United States and reunite with the father who sends remesas (money) monthly so they can survive. They even have hope for the return of their fathers. When we asked one child what he wanted to be when he grew up, his heartbreaking response was: “Quiero ser un soldado para rescatar a mi papá que está preso en Estados Unidos por ser indocumentado.” (“I want to be a soldier to go and rescue my dad who was incarcerated for being undocumented.”) They also have hope that corruption will one day end in their country, allowing them to secure a good job to make ends meet, since many children subsist on a cup of coffee or hot water for breakfast, and are lucky if they get a tortilla.

A Renewed Perspective

My visit to Guatemala left me re-energized with all three—commitment, passion, and hope. I feel a renewed commitment to spreading the word about Child Aid’s vital work. I have a greater passion to continue supporting our immigrants in U.S. schools, knowing that every one of them has a powerful story. Finally, I hold hope that in the United States, we will continue to open our classroom doors wider to embrace cultural and language diversity.

The Guatemalan community has certainly made a difference in my life as the leader of Seidlitz Education. Thank you, Child Aid, for this opportunity.