One child, one opportunity, one hundred dollars a year.  Sometimes it’s just as simple as that to stop the cycle of illiteracy, poverty and despair in Guatemala.

Maricela is that one child, who received that one opportunity.  Despite being illiterate herself, Maricela’s mother, Cruz, saved every quetzal to enroll her daughter in school with the hopes of having her educated for maybe a year or two.  In school, Maricela thrived and grew, soaking up all she could from her schoolteacher.  Then the money ran out.  Maricela had to leave fourth grade to join her mother working in the home to support her family.

As Cruz prepared Maricela to leave school, a neighbor told Cruz about a program run by FUNDIT, Child Aid’s partner organization in El Tejar.  “Maybe Maricela doesn’t have to leave school,” the neighbor said, “Maybe Proyecto Becas at FUNDIT can help Maricela attend school at least another year.”

That was eight years ago.  Thanks to an ongoing scholarship from FUNDIT, Maricela graduated from junior high in 2002 at the top of her class.  So impressive was her dedication to learning, that she received another scholarship to attend a teacher-training program outside of El Tejar.

Using her mother as a role model, Maricela worked and worked some more to get where she is now.  In addition to her schoolwork, Maricela helped her mother make rellanitos plantanos (fried bananas stuffed with beans) to sell in the market and volunteer in FUNDIT teaching the preschoolers art and games.  She also found the time to do various community projects in El Tejar.  When she finishes her schooling, Maricela plans to return to El Tejar to teach the children of her hometown.

Cruz misses Maricela every day she is away at boarding school, but she knows her daughter is building a brighter future for herself and her family.  In the meantime, Cruz works harder than ever selling homemade snacks in the market to pay for the items that are not covered by Maricela’s scholarship.  Money is tight, but Cruz will do anything she can to make sure that her daughter finishes her education.

Recently, Cruz told FUNDIT’s women’s group that Maricela is doing so well in her new school that she was nominated to be a class representative.  “We’ve come so far,” Cruz said, “I am so proud of my child and deeply thankful for Proyectos Becas and FUNDIT.”

One child, one opportunity.  It’s just as simple as that.

Click here to sponsor a student like Maricela today.