Lea la historia en español: http://friendsofelsol.org/madre-hija-plazas-comunitarias/
Candelaria learned to write her name in the one month of school she received in Guatemala. Now, she is learning to read and write through El Sol’s Plazas Comunitarias program.
One recent Saturday, she practiced reading words such as “misa” and “casa” at the whiteboard. Rows of letters she scribed filled pages of her notebook.
Lynda, Candelaria’s instructor, monitored her progress and assigned her homework. She pushed Candelaria through timed drills.
Beside them, Candelaria’s daughter, Rosa, helped another Plazas Comunitarias student practice vowel sounds. The three are native speakers of Q’anjob’al, a Mayan language.
Candelaria is from the village of Ixtiapoc, in the state of Huehuetenango. Though she did not complete formal schooling, her daughter, Rosa, completed sixth grade in Guatemala.
As a Plazas Comunitarias student, Candelaria is following a curriculum and exam schedule that will lead to certifications from the Mexican Secretariat of Public Education.
Plazas Comunitarias is supported in part by the Mexican government through the Institute for Mexicans Abroad (IME-Becas.)
When Candelaria signed up for the program a few weeks ago, Rosa signed on as a volunteer.
And while the mother and daughter work, El Sol provides free child care for the family’s two young boys.
At Jupiter High School, Rosa enjoys World History, English, Biology and Algebra. She also plays the cello and takes orchestra.