Even with the situations that life has offered us in the recent months, we continue moving along. Because failing is not an option in the life of those who are willing to work for a future with success. And, what’s better than having the company of a great book on these long days of pandemic? Our bilingual seventh graders and our scholarship students have been really busy with schoolwork and house activities. Yet even with all they are doing, they still make time for reading.
Living in a country that is not ready for virtual teaching and learning makes it complicated to do all activities we would desire to achieve, like following up in person with our kids reading. Despite social distancing and all the difficulties, the education system is facing, we continue to work and we work for a better future, for a better Honduras. Although for some people it is difficult to accept, we all know that education is one of the best ways for a country to prosper; and if reading goes along, it contributes to successful development. Knowing this, we have engaged teachers and some are encouraging this project by giving their students extra credit for reading.
We continue to develop reading skills with our students, knowing that now, it can seem like extra work added to their activities, but it will bring so much benefit to their future and they will acknowledge that one day. We can already foresee it in some of our students, that even with time limitations persist on their reading. Others although no yet finished with their first assigned book, are reading books on their own without waiting for a reward, rather doing it out of love. Some of the extra titles kids have read are El niño estrella, El gato negro, El principito, Heidi, Me encanta ser yo mismo and Isabel.
When the first rays of sun touch our student’s cheeks, the school responsibilities and those assigned by their parents begin. They have limited time for all of their activities, however; they still take a piece of that time to dream with their eyes open and a book in their hands, aunque para algunos signifique robarle un poco de luz a la luna.