Firsthand insights on our partnership with middle school Colegio San Gaspar
This is a conversation with Limitless Horizons Ixil graduate Antonio Laynez, who was a student at Colegio San Gaspar from 2009-2011 and has supported our work with the school ever since. The interview was conducted and translated by Marissa Loterina, International Coordinator.
Antonio helping volunteers with a project at San Gaspar
What differences do you see at Colegio San Gaspar since the partnership with Limitless Horizons Ixil began?
Before the partnership, the school didn’t know much about Limitless Horizons Ixil’s work, and it was in poorer condition. The infrastructure was different — there were dirt floors and now there are cement floors. We used to have just a few long tables, but there are now individual desks. There wasn’t a school band, but now there is. Now even more students attend Colegio San Gaspar since the Limitless Horizons Ixil partnership began and it has improved.
What were some of your favorite things about Colegio San Gaspar?
Readings — especially when we would read a part from a book and share something about what we read! I also really liked our activities because we always created something beautiful. Teachers at Colegio San Gaspar teach only in Spanish and I liked this a lot because I was able to learn more than in elementary school where we didn’t learn much Spanish because it was easier for everyone to speak Ixil.
Do you think Colegio San Gaspar is a better option than other schools in Chajul?
Yes. They have an emphasis on writing, and on learning and speaking the Spanish language which helped me a lot. When I went to study in Sololá for high school (four hours from Chajul), I noticed a big difference from my classmates who did not know Spanish as well.
Antonio supporting a teacher research a topic for his next class
What have been some of your successes since finishing middle school at San Gaspar?
I can speak Spanish very well now and I am able to interact with others without embarrassment or fear. I gained more opportunities, including earning two scholarships to study English and tourism in Sololá during high school. I also went to Guatemala City for a week-long English course and participated in a conference for English teachers this past October.
I graduated from high school with a specialization in English and earned an associate’s degree in tourism. I studied tourism because I wanted to learn more about Guatemala because it has so much to offer — mountains, flora and fauna, volcanos, and Maya artifacts. I recently earned another university scholarship and I will continue studying to earn a degree in tourism business administration.
What are your professional aspirations?
I want to start a tourism office in Chajul to promote Ixil culture and host activities. I would also like to continue supporting Limitless Horizons Ixil’s mission of giving opportunities and scholarships to students like me. I would love the opportunity to study outside of Guatemala to learn more about business and tourism.
Partnership Background
In 2013, Limitless Horizons Ixil established a partnership with Colegio San Gaspar, which our staff identified through careful research as the strongest school for partnership. The partnership made Colegio San Gaspar the middle school that all our Youth Development Program scholars would attend, and created a structure for Limitless Horizons Ixil to work with school administration to enhance the education provided to all students.
Over the last several years, we have worked to provide increasing support to the school, including by organizing workshops for teachers and students and bringing in volunteers and resources to improve infrastructure, such as building a basketball court, bathrooms, and most recently an additional classroom.
Meet Antonio
Antonio is 20 years old and is one of the Youth Development Program’s recent graduates. He is very grateful for how Limitless Horizons Ixil supported him during his studies and he continues to volunteer his time, offering a helping hand to our staff and scholars.
He recently volunteered at the Saber Sin Límites Community Library by assisting children with research and providing homework help. In addition, Antonio has started offering tutoring help for our scholars’ English classes.
Antonio is a newly elected board member of the Limitless Horizons Ixil alumni association, Triunfadores Sin Límites
(Limitless Achievers). He also was selected to be our 2016 Operations Intern!
Antonio comes from a family with five children. He loves living in Guatemala and has proven himself to be a community leader striving for change in Chajul.
We are so proud to see how much Antonio has achieved since he started with Limitless Horizons Ixil seven years ago. He is a fantastic role model for our scholars and for the rest of the community of Chajul. He has big dreams and ambitions, and we’re confident he will achieve them!
