Hope of a Better Tomorrow
In
the days leading up to All Saints Day (Nov 1) in Cotzal, I was watching some
girls fly their kites from the roof of their adobe home. Flying kites is a
tradition during this season, and the children of the village get very creative
in their designs and technique. I studied as these two young girls worked
together to launch their kite into the haze of the day. Other children
fashioned kites out of small plastic garbage bags, not deterred from
participating in the tradition.
Some children
stood and admired the success of others, giving hope that their creation could
also reach up to the puffy clouds above town.
I wish I could have effectively captured that reflection of hope. “It is
possible, I can do it to.” Puedo Hacerlo!
Later that week,
I glanced out the small window of the poorly lit, cramped room I was using for the
purpose of having conversations with students and parents about the
possibilities of scholarships. The benches outside were lined with hopeful
children and parents, stretching the length of the building and around the
corner out of sight - willing to wait for hours to have a conversation
concerning their educational future. They had seen others attending school, and
suddenly they knew “It was possible” for their kids as well.
 |
Elsa's little sister trails behind and looks up at her big sister and knows she too can find success. Hope is born.
|
They
say that success breeds success. WIND’s work with Colegio Horeb has been very
successful. This past year the school swelled to 150 students! As the crowds
gathered to watch the sixth graders receive their diplomas, you could feel the
pride and encouragement surge though those in attendance present like a current
of electricity. Maybe that is what HOPE feels like? I am not sure, but you
could feel the goosebumps rise on the back of your neck. That kind of hope is
contagious, and you want to immerse yourself in it.
WIND desires to build upon the momentum in
Cotzal and at Colegio Horeb in 2016. I watch and see possibilities give rise to
hope – a hope that will change the future. The sky is the limit and success is
within reach. Together we can turn possibilities into realities.
