Yesterday morning we were expecting 2 groups of a dozen or more kids to do story time, craft, and a book giveaway with. As per custom in Guatemala, we had a handful arrive 40 minutes early (kinda surprising), and most arrive half an hour late.
The plan was to read The Little Red Hen (en espanol), make "baulking chickens" with red solo cups, googly eyes, and wet string, and give a book to each kid to take home. I was a little nervous that it was going to be crazy or out of control, especially since it was all sort of my idea and I only have a few words in Spanish. But it went GREAT! Holly and Chris's son, Jack, read the book to the first group, and explained that the story was about helping others. Jon, another son, explained and translated much of the craft and the kids looooooved it! It was smiles all around. Then Holly figured out which kids needed a book on what grade level and we passed out books. So many of the kids began reading them right away- that made me want to burst with happiness! We took pictures, thanked the kids for coming, and cleaned up to get ready for the next group.
Ashleigh (my cousin and travel partner extraordinaire) shocked me by reading the book to the second group of kids! Seriously, you think you know someone, you've been family for nearly a decade, and then a girl goes and reveals that she's nearly fluent in Spanish. Makes me wonder what else she's hiding...:)
Jon helped again with the craft for the second group, the kids were given books on their grade level, everyone had a blast, we took pictures, thanked them for coming, and sent them on their way. I thought we were done. I was so pleased at how well everything had gone.
Then two of the kids from the second group showed up with more kids! I guess they enjoyed it so much they went and got their friends. Too cute. We had plenty of supplies and books, so we did story time once more for these kiddos. It was the same- all the kids smiling and laughing at their baulking chickens, reading their books. It was awesome!
What we did with the kids here is something that might be commonplace in the US. We take for granted that we have libraries with kids programs, or that we have libraries at all. Here in Magdalena you learn to read in school, if you go. If you struggle to learn in school there is no differentiated instruction in the classroom, or extra tutoring with the teacher before or after school, or library to get books to practice reading, or even literate parents to help at home. I don't know what the literacy rate is here, but many, many adults can only read on a very low level. Some cannot read at all. If you can't read, you have few options for work, and you have almost no opportunity to learn new things, to better yourself. You can't read the bible.
Case in point: We went to a key ceremony yesterday for a family receiving a house from the 12x12 Love Project. The grandfather was given a bible and was asked if he could read. He said only a little. Here this man was, given a book filled with a message of Love just for him, and he can't even access it. That is pretty commonplace here. It was such a contrast from hearing those little sweeties read their new books just hours before.
I'm not sure where I go from here. (Well, home. I go home tomorrow.) I have a lot of thoughts. There are women that would benefit so much from reading instruction. There are children, and a whole community, that would benefit from a library. I would love to come back and do story and craft time again. It's such a small thing in the face of so much poverty and illiteracy. But it's still something.
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