Flory is the youngest of 8 siblings. The book she received thanks to your donation, ADIVINANZAS PARA ANTES DE DORMIR, has many animals, and her friend tells her that they have seen some of these animals in the zoo. Her father works in agriculture and cannot afford to take her to the zoo, which is her dream.  She is very grateful that her new book can allow her to imagine what the zoo is like. Thank you Charlotte!

Ervin Israel is seven years old, and lives in El Tesoro, a small rural village in the Guatemalan Highlands.

Ervin loves bunnies, and especially loves Los Quiero, Pequeñitos, which means “I love you, little ones.” The book has beautiful pictures, and he loves the story. Ervin looks forward to when the Mobile Library comes to his village and brings such fun books to read.

Thank you for your donation Swipegood! Your contribution will help Ervin foster a lifelong love of reading!

Victor Cua is a very focused young man. Although he suffers from debilitating arthritis, it has not stopped him from being the best student in his class. He would like to see his family more often, but understands that it is very far for them to come visit. Victor lost his father when he was very young. His family was homeless for nine years, but different people helped them and lent them a place to live. When he was five, he started working cleaning a carpenter’s shop.  His mother works as a laundress and is aware that the only inheritance she can leave Victor and her other 3 children is a good education.  That is why when Victor turned nine she sent him to live at a border school very far away.  Victor’s dream of becoming a lawyer often keeps him in his room studying instead of going outside to play with his friends.  He hopes he can help others and give something back to the people who once helped him.  Victor is very thankful his gift of tuition, thank you!!

Damaris, 8 years old, loves this book Xalur, because like the girl in the story she loves to watch the stars at night. She reads to her younger brother, borrowing books from the mobil library every two weeks. Since these visits began she now has the opportunity of having books at home, for the first time.

Thanks Raj for providing this book for Damaris!

Gloria, 11 years old, loves the book Guadalupe Topo, since she loves stories and legends. She told us she learns a lot from these books and this will help her with her studies. She hopes many more books come to her village Chajalajya in rural Guatemala so she can continue reading. The book mobil arrives every two weeks and it is a real treat.

Elma, 10 years old, loves Cuentos para antes de Dormir de Todo El Mundo, bed time stories from around the world. It reminds her of her father who is working in the USA, when she sees pictures of children with their parents, and this is a good feeling and makes her smile.

Blanca, 12 years old, lives in El Tesoro in rural Guatemala.  She relates to this book, El Lugar más Bonito del Mundo, because she lives in a beautiful place near the MotaguaRiver, surrounded by trees. Thanks to the kindness of people like you she can now enjoy having books which were hard to get before.

Jose Emilio, seven years old, loves the book about crickets, “Saltamontes Sonsoles”. The pictures remind him of Chajalajya, where there are also many trees, flowers and friends. Jose’s brothers enjoyed the book too. The Biblioteco (mobil library) visits his village every two weeks when he is able to borrow books.

Alex Rene loves stories, especially the ones in this book. Cuentos para antes de dormer de America includes Popol Vuh, the Mayan story that tells about the creation, and men made of wood.

His grandfather used to tell him some of these stories about the history of his people, but this is the first time he has a book. Books are very scarce in his community, and his family cannot afford to buy them. He also enjoys reading about other countries and sharing them with friends and family.

Thank you Madelyn for providing this book for Alex!

Sitting in the corner of Edwin’s room is a magnificent model of a high rise, it’s clean lines elevating from the cardboard base. When asked where this building was located he answered: “Only in my mind.”

Edwin is a senior in high school specializing in architecture. He lives in the village of Pacutan, Santa Apolonia in the Guatemalan Highlands.

There is no high school here and Edwin attends an institute which is a 2 hour drive away. His family is very poor, and could not afford to pay for his studies. Thanks to the help he has received from PAVA he has been able to study and make his dream come true, and be the first person in his family to graduate from high school.

He states: “Thanks to PAVA I have been able to continue my studies. My community lacks a high school and many of my classmates started working when they finished grade school because of the lack of opportunity.”

He has been renting a room near the institute and still remembers the days he had to bicycle for hours, or walk carrying his bicycle because of a flat tire.

His enthusiasm and dedication is great, and his vision for the future is to graduate and work in order to help my family. His family is very proud of him.

Thank you all for supporting Edwin’s final year of high school!