One child, one teacher, one book and a pen can change the world. Education is the only solution.
Malala Yousafzai in her speech to the UN.
I started by quoting Malala because we can see some similarities between her story and what we are dealing with today. Malala, a girl who experienced a brutal regime’s attempt to stop her from studying, even threatening her life, had the drive and will to be victorious. She not only survived being shot in the head in a cowardly attack, but she also recovered, prepared, and became a powerful human rights activist, particularly in relation to women’s right to education. Her work even won her the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014 and recently in June 2020, she received her degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) from the University of Oxford in England.
Now to Purulhá. During difficult conditions, this community has been working hard to forge a better life for itself. The work of the “Lic. Bernardo Lemus Menzoza” Library – Yo’o Guatemala is notable. Many individual successes and significant overall achievements have already outlined the silhouette of a human development model in full swing.
But unexpected things happen. Just when all the programs were showing important progress and plans were becoming more ambitious, the Covid-19 pandemic came along, disrupting and hindering everything. It became clear that almost nothing would be the same and that these difficulties would persist. Finding a solution would require leadership, creativity and will. In the face of a darkened backdrop, our eyes were focused on the library.
And then the light began to shine. Let’s allow Brenda Lemus, our beloved “Seño” to explain it to us.
Students, parents, young community leaders, local authorities, private initiatives, and NGOs were looking for the best option. We have approached public and private establishments, conducted surveys, and investigated how other people have satisfied various needs in different contexts. Together, we decided to opt for a remote digital education platform with those we’ve connected with. We set out the main issues to be resolved, and we were undoubtedly the ones who must take this on. That was how we generated a plan that we have called Qa Tzoleb’aal (Our School)…
Brenda Lemus – Programs Director at Yo’o Guatemala, “Llegó la hora de intervenir la educación”
And now there’s a way forward! Just like Malala, Purulhá didn’t fall to its knees; it doesn’t want to be stopped. Its children and young people want to know more – they aspire to have a better future, and just like Malala, they will succeed. “Our School” will start on Monday the 25th of January 2021 with the preparatory course for middle school and then on the 1st of February 2021 primary school will start.
Overjoyed with emotion, I commend all those who have made this possible. You make me proud; you inspire me, and I am sending you all an enthusiastic hug. There is a lot of hard work to be done, but I have a good feeling about it because the library has always been a place of outstanding resolve. We will keep going, together, without stopping. These little girls and boys will give us great happiness and our country will come out on top.
Education doesn’t change the world; it changes those people who will change the world.
Paulo Freire
Esta traducción de inglés ha sido posible gracias a la iniciativa PerMondo: traducciones gratuitas de sitios web y documentos para organizaciones sin ánimo de lucro. Un proyecto patrocinado por Mondo Agit. Traductor: Jack Caine. Revisora: Jessie Linardi-Nicol.
