Empower Students in the Coffee Village of Joconal

Our fourth year as a registered secondary school has been quite a whirlwind. The school year is half way through, and we just finished midterm tests. This year we are offering tutoring for the 5^th and 6^th grade students from the primary school in Joconal. The kids come after school hours and get extra help with their school work from our teachers. This has been a great opportunity to develop relationships with our future students. Our hope is that the tutoring will give them the support they need and will ignite a love for learning that will continue through life. It has been wonderful watching as these students grow while supporting the primary school in Joconal.

Although some of our programs are the same as years past, we continue to improve and make changes to them, so all of our students, new and old, can grow. With that, we have another community garden this year, but this year our teachers have added a value lesson to the project, compost. Our students live in the middle of the jungle; so much of what they use is just thrown away outside their door. On earth day, our students learned how to set up recycling and compost in their homes. Afterwards, they went to other homes in the village to help families do the same. Now, they use the compost in their garden. They’ve grown quite a few radishes with the compost as you can see in the picture.

With all the planning we do, the most incredible things happen when we just aren’t expecting it. When we started the school in January 2015, we knew that each of our students was going to need some level of remediation. The two areas that we saw the most need were reading and math. For our students, math was a nightmare. They grew in reading, but most of them hated math! One of our students in particular struggled when he started school that year. Kelvin was failing most of his subjects. He wasn’t doing well, and often skipped school to earn money working with his dad. If he wasn’t going to do well in school, he might as well earn money to help his family today, right?

Karina talked with Kelvin and his father, and they decided Kelvin should stay in school. Since then, Kelvin has had regular attendance and is one of our best students. He is in 10^th grade now and is taking chemistry with our senior class. We were shocked when Kelvin told us that he loves chemistry. He was nervous that it would be hard or that he wouldn’t understand, but instead, he finds it extremely interesting. He loves learning about the basis of matter, especially as it relates to medicine.

Karina asks each of our students what they want to do when they graduate, so they begin to consider the possibilities. Kelvin never knew what he wanted to do until recently. He wants to go into medicine, and become a doctor or pharmacist. Kelvin is extremely bright and will excel in this area if he continues with his dreams, but just think, this student almost dropped out! We are so grateful for all the supporters that have given to our school. It is those gifts that have allowed us to encourage Kelvin to continue. Thank you for all of your support!

Classes in Joconal began on Wednesday, January 17th. It has been great having the students back to school. We welcomed 3 new girls in our 7th grade class, have 3 seniors set to graduate in October, and a new preschool class right next door. We've had so much happen in only a month. 

In the 3rd week of school, our seniors went to Guatemala City to join the seniors at CAB school in required activities. They are required to complete a senior course and project in order to graduate in Guatemala. It is a lot of work, but we know our seniors are going to do well. We know they will do great, because their first presentation on Friday could not have gone better. 

While they were in Guatemala City, it wasn't all work. They went out to lunch with their teachers, and CAB planned some fun activities as well. They had a soccer tournament among the seniors, and our boys crushed the other team 7 - 0! Needless to say, they enjoyed their visit. We love when they get the opportunity to take a break from all the responsibility they have in their lives, and get the opportunity to be kids. 

Our students live a very different life then the average student in the United States. The boys work to help their parents put food on the table, and the girls are often required to stay home to make tortillas. The very real poverty that our students live in often makes it difficult for them and their families to look past today. Over the years, we have seen students make that very difficult decision to go back to work or stay home to help care for their families. This reality breaks our hearts, but also motivates us to continue our work.

When we look around the school, we know our work is paying off. The 7th grade girls that are continuing to pursue their education are preparing for better lives for themselves and their children. The seniors are working towards a future where they can help their family get out of the cycle of poverty. As we continue to see our previous graduates flourish, we know that this cycle will not last forever. Joconal gets closer everyday to being a place that is not defined by its limitations. 

Thank you for being a part of that change. Your support has made the difference in their lives.