Thirty-six Maya preschoolers from three villages near our Maya Jaguar campus have successfully completed our Bilingual Early Literacy Program. Thanks to the generosity of our donors and sponsors, these children are better prepared to enter first grade next year with the foundational Spanish language and numeracy skills they need to succeed.
For children growing up in Mayan-speaking homes in remote villages, where parents often have little or no formal education and Spanish—the official language of Guatemala—is rarely spoken, this early introduction to Spanish is especially important. It helps bridge the language gap they will encounter in primary school, builds a foundation for academic success, and reduces the risk of dropping out in the early grades.
Village of Monte Bello: Eleven children successfully completed—four girls and seven boys. Two boys and one girl earned achievement medals.
Village of La Lucha: Nine children successfully completed—five girls and four boys. Two girls earned achievement medals.
Village of Buena Vista: Sixteen children successfully completed—seven girls and nine boys. Two girls earned achievement medals.
The learning continues beyond preschool
Our three bilingual teachers also provide tutoring to primary school students in these same villages after their regular government-provided classes. This additional support helps children keep pace academically, remain in school, and successfully complete the six years of government-mandated primary education.
It also strengthens their preparation for the next step: secondary education at Maya Jaguar Private Technical Institute, where students can pursue opportunities that would otherwise be out of reach for many rural Maya families. Education beyond primary school is severely underfunded by the Guatemalan government and virtually unavailable in these rural highlands.
Again, the generosity of our donors and sponsors makes this educational journey possible—from a child's first steps in Spanish literacy to the opportunity for a secondary education and a brighter future.