Pedro's Story

 
Pedro
 

Hi, my name is Pedro. I’m 14 years old and I’m in fourth grade at Chispas of Change. I work shining shoes and selling gum in the streets around Antigua’s Central Park. My mom sells bubbles and gum in the street too. My dad sells ice cream. My family is from Nebaj, Quiche which is far away from Antigua. We moved to Antigua to find work. My first language is Mam, a Mayan dialect, and my second language is Spanish.

I found out about Chispas of Change because Walter told me about it. I was going to soccer practice with the guys on Mondays and I asked Estuardo if I could study with them. They gave me the opportunity to get back into school, so now I go to school at Chispas of Change.

What I like most about Chispas of Change is the homework and English Class. This year I have already learned the colors, numbers, and alphabet in English!

I really miss learning now that we are in quarantine, and I also miss playing with my classmates.

I really like Chispas of Change because now I can read and write, and because my teachers taught me how to respect others!

In ten years, I would like to be an architect.

Pedro always has a shy smile on his face. He is self-motivated and holds himself responsible for his homework and punctuality. Quite impressive for a 14-year-old! Even though his previous school passed him through to fourth grade, he did not know how to read or write when he started with us in January. Unfortunately, this is quite common for indigenous children, especially if their parents are illiterate. The public schools tend to pass everyone, and many students slip through the cracks year after year, never learning to read, write, or do basic math operations.

Pedro learned so much during the first nine weeks of school, and we are very proud of his effort and progress. Pedro can now read short stories on his own, and he is learning to write! We are eager to continue working with him once the quarantine is over. Please pray for safety and provision for Pedro as he works hard cutting down trees to sell as firewood to provide for his family, as they are currently not able to sell in the streets due to local restrictions. Thank you for reading Pedro’s story!

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