First Graduation Since Stan at the New Panabaj School!

Monday, October 30 was a happy day at the Escuela Rural Mixta Cantón Panabaj, because 38 students from 6^th grade were celebrating their graduation. This is a remarkable achievement for Guatemalan families because not so long ago this was only possible for a low percentage of the population. Nowadays Guatemalan families still need to make a big sacrifice to put their children through school, as some of these families barely earn enough to be able to feed their children. For these same difficulties most of the children who finish primary school are not able to continue studying.

It is customary in Guatemala that the children choose a “Madrina” or “Padrino” (Godmother or Godfather) that will accompany them on their celebration, and who will somehow collaborate in making the celebration possible. The main consideration for choosing this person is to find someone who has benefited the Community. For Pueblo a Pueblo it was a great honor to have our Benefits Coordinator chosen as Godmother. Montserrat Deu has been coordinating the School Sponsorship Program since the beginning of year 2006. She has been going to the Panabaj School very often and we can say that even though the School Sponsorship Program is still really young, we could not expect any better reward than the recognition of the oldest students from the Panabaj School.

Last year, due to the mudslide caused by Hurricane Stan that left what we now call the “Old” Panabaj School unusable, there was no Graduation Day. This was one of the reasons that made this years’ graduation even more special.

On Monday 30^th the graduation started at 10:00 in the morning. The two most brilliant students from the 6^th grade, Irma Leticia Xicay and Juan Ignacio Letona, started the ceremony entering the Guatemalan flag, and then all the sixth graders where called one by one. The director, the teacher and the Godmother gave the diplomas and after some words from one of the parents, Montserrat Deu distributed bag packs for each one of the students in name of Pueblo a Pueblo as a recognition for their big effort in finishing primary school. The celebration ended with a lunch, prepared at the school, for the children, their parents and the teachers, with cake included!

You could see it on their faces; it was a memorable and emotional day.

Congratulations to all!!!!

Posted by Pueblo a Pueblo on Tuesday, November 07, 2006 at 8:48 AM | Permalink