Silvia is 21 years old and single. She graduated from high school with a specialty in education. She went to school on the Market Children Scholarship. Her eight-year-old sister, and two brothers(12 and 18), are all going to school on Market Children Scholarships. Silvia does not know her father as he abandoned her mother when she was pregnant with her. She

Silvia does not know her father as he abandoned her mother when she was pregnant with her. She now lives with her 18-year-old brother due to

problems at home with her stepfather.

The true success of Silvia is that in July 2008 she started working as a teacher for AYO (Alternativas Y Oportunidadsin). She works in four schools which are located in a very poor and dangerous neighborhood.

Other educators work only with children in the Market Children Program, but Sylicia works with all the children in the school. This is part of a pilot project, suggested by Kevin Webb, the CAO of CRCID, called “Strengthening Primary Education Centers”. The primary goal of this is to increase the number of children who stay in school and pass their year.

The average class size is 40 and usually contains 4 to 6 children who have either learning or behavioral problems, so teachers are delighted to be able to get help from Silvia. Because this was a pilot project Silvia had to develop and supply all her old teaching aids and materials.

From July to November, (school starts February 15 and ends November 30), Silvia dealt with 169 children and their problems. These were typically children who had difficulty with math and Spanish. She tutored them and taught them studying and coping skills. Silvia says that all you really need to help these children is patience.

Silvia wanted to talk to me about two special children she helped. She said, there was one tiny six-year-old girl, who had a hunch back and was in a wheelchair. She taught her vowels using different colored paper, she read her stories, and taught her to count using seeds.

Unfortunately the little girl died just before Christmas from complications of her condition. Naturally Silvia was quite upset with this turn of events. Another little six-year-old girl was rejected by the other children. The girl had some learning disabilities but her mother and father were not interested in helping her. Silvia has taught the her basic reading and writing skills. She hopes to continue to help the little girl as soon as school starts.

Silvia plays basketball and reads history in her spare time. She would like to attend a public university to study social work and psychology.

Silvia would like to thank Kelowna Sunrise Rotary and CRCID for funding her salary for a year, and giving her the opportunity to help the children that have difficulty in school.

Project Coordinator and CRCID Member Ron Ross comments.

"Silvia is an amazing and talented young lady. I wish we could clone her and send hundreds just like her out into the school system in Honduras. I'm sure that it would make a significant difference to the education of children with learning difficulties and special problems in the schools. Here again is an example of a young girl who experienced a difficult childhood herself, being able to relate to and help children with difficulties".