Image of CasaSito student Zoila in the school yard by Dayana Rivero
For participants like Abner, CasaSito is more than education — it is a safe and supportive haven. At 16, Abner already holds a lifetime of experience as he became the primary caregiver for his mother who was undergoing cancer treatment, and for his three younger sisters. All the while, Abner was pursuing his education whilst also participating in Guatemala’s CasaSito program.
Image of Melvin posing with his mom - he loves art and spends a lot of his time painting by Dayana Rivero
Those who have the opportunity to attend the array of courses offered by CasaSito carry the pertinent enriching lessons and skills with them beyond the casa’s walls into their futures. Students find a tight-knit, communal place to grow skills and awareness of their place in the world; teachers who train with CasaSito learn how to lead creatively-driven curricula.
Beyond formal education, programs also foster life skills to build students’ capacities to work through personal and systemic problems. Activities like theatre and debate clubs teach participants as much about socially and culturally relevant issues as the crafts themselves. Topics of the debate club have included whether or not social media increases isolation and if graffiti is vandalism. Theatre students write and direct plays exploring the tension between the expectation to start a family versus continuing their education, which helps them grow their capacity to work through these issues in their own lives.
Image of Saul who lives at home and studies online by Dayana Rivero
The dynamic extracurricular activities complement students’ full-time education to encourage them to stay committed to their studies, thereby addressing the deeper education issue in Guatemala where only 25% of the country’s youth attend high school.
Image of school principal in her office by Dayana Rivero
While Abner gained creative and critical thinking skills, he and his family also received counseling from social workers at CasaSito who helped them manage their emotional health and wellbeing. The nurturing curriculum and care supported Abner in his school successes, and despite the challenges he faced, his grades exceeded 80%. Through CasaSito, Abner discovered his strengths and dreams of becoming a forensic criminologist — “My real dream is to become a forensic criminologist. I think I’d be good at it because I’m patient and I’m a good observer,” he says.
CasaSito cultivates a holistic learning experience for the community at large. “Students at CasaSito carry a light and enthusiasm about the possibility of achieving their goals, being able to help their families, and contributing to their communities,” says Dayana Rivero who witnessed the magic of CasaSito firsthand while on assignment for PWB. “My hope is that this light will never dim.”
Image of student’s art by Dayana Rivero
