As many of you know we have a Montessori pre-school and kindergarten at the Lord’s Food Bank in Juarez, Mexico. We currently have 40 children enrolled in our school this year. It is a great blessing to the parents of these little ones from this very poor area, since their kids can get a quality education free of charge. Many of these same parents never had the opportunity to go to school themselves, and now in their 20’s and 30’s cannot read or write. Lucha, the principal of our Montessori school, has had it on her heart for a long time to start offering free classes for the adults. And now all the pieces are falling into place so that we can do this.
First we had to find a suitable place to hold the classes. The school rooms for the children are filled with little desks, chairs and tables and are too cramped to be used for grown-ups. So we expanded another room (see picture) that we use for catechism classes on Saturdays making it big enough for an adult learning center. This will include space for a small library so people in the neighborhood can borrow books. We have received several donations of good books already so once the shelves are finished we can get this service going.
With the room, teacher, books and supplies ready, we spread the word that classes would begin in September. At this writing we have 15 adults signed up ranging from age 25 to 50, including Alondra and her mother who we told you about in a previous newsletter. There is also a 12 year old girl who has never been to school before and she wants to join. Two sessions are offered each week on Monday and on Friday. Before each session we provide sandwiches to make sure no one is starting class hungry. The focus of this initial stage is to teach basic reading and writing. Then we hope to progress to other subjects and eventually get them ready to pass their equivalent of a GED. Having that certification will help them be able to get better jobs.
“I’m so grateful for this chance to learn how to read and write,” one of the adults expressed. “I never thought it would happen.”
And now this mom will be able to read the cards her son makes for her in his kindergarten class nearby.
