Support literacy and learning for 1,900 Maya youth

With the Guatemalan school year coming to a close for the year, our Community Library is abuzz with activity. While schools close for winter vacation, the library steps in to encourage year round learning and literacy, supporting children and teens in Chajul continue to explore, discover, and grow during their winter break.

This season, our vacation programming is in full swing, offering hands-on, curiosity-driven activities that make learning exciting and accessible for all.

Our science sessions have been a highlight. Recently, children headed to the local park to observe nature in their own environment. With curiosity as their guide, they searched for insects among plants, soil, and stones—each small discovery becoming an opportunity for conversation and deeper understanding. Back at the library, students participated in another unforgettable science class where they looked through a microscope for the very first time, a powerful reminder of how transformative access to resources can be.

In our practical math activities, library members measured their height and wingspan, compared their data, and discussed what these differences might mean—turning abstract concepts into concrete lessons.

These hands-on lessons were enhanced by our new SMART TV, installed earlier this year in our library classroom. It has already become an essential tool for showing educational videos, projecting live microscope views, and creating an engaging environment where technology supports exploration.

We are also delighted to share that we welcomed emerging leader (LHI alum) Ana to the library team! Ana is now teaching remedial math classes, ensuring that students strengthen foundational skills and build confidence ahead of the new school year. Her dedication and talent represent exactly the kind of local leadership we aim to nurture.

Thanks to you, the Community Library continues to be a vibrant, safe, and inspiring space where children learn, dream, and discover—even when school is out. We are deeply grateful for your continued partnership in making year-round learning possible in Chajul.