Students Seeking Sponsors

Adan Jose is an excellent student who scores near the top of his class each year. He has a brother who recently graduated from the public school as a teacher and a sister who is still attending. Adan's father owns a moto taxi, which is not a lucrative business, particularly with the economy and tourism at all-time lows, and his mother runs a small pulperia from their home. Although they don't speak English, Adan’s family values education and knows that his English-language education will lead to much better opportunities for him in the future.

Ana Sofia is a student with such superior English skills that her teacher wanted her to skip second grade; unfortunately, Ana had to complete the other academic requirements for second grade too. Regardless, she is always eager to practice her English reading and speaking; perhaps it has helped that her older brother graduated from Mayatan two years ago. Ana's parents recently lost their business and are now trying to start another one. Because of her need and tremendous academic performance, Mayatan wants to increase her scholarship this year, and we are looking for a sponsor to help this talented girl continue to excel.

Anett is new to the beca system this year, but she and her family are longstanding Mayataners: her brother, who came up through the ranks as a full scholarship student, started in our high school program this year. Anett's constant smile and helpfulness in the classroom demonstrate how happy she is to be in school. Anett and Mayatan alike hope that you will help to keep this family tradition going strong.

Arnold’s teachers describe him as confident, spunky, and even “cool,” which means that he is kind to his classmates and teachers even while joking around. He is bigger and more athletic than many of the kids, which adds to his confidence. Arnold comes from a small aldea; despite his big personality, he occasionally struggles with academics. His mother doesn't work, and his father has a new family. Arnold is lucky enough to have a partial sponsor who sees his potential even when his grades aren’t top notch. This partial sponsor covers books, registration, fees, and a piece of his tuition. Despite this support, Arnold needs help with meals and tuition. Because his is a special case, contact fundraising@mayatanfoundation.org to further discuss Arnold.

Camilia is new to school this year, and she's happy to join her older brother, Leonardo, at Mayatan. Their father is a woodworker and painter who made many of the classroom and decorative signs at the school. In addition, their father makes crafts like mirrors, painted frames, and handcrafted boxes to sell at souvenir and artisan shops in town. Their mother is a public school teacher in Santa Rita. It's clear that their mother's studiousness and the father's creativity have rubbed off on the children; help Mayatan help them fulfill their bright futures.

Carlos Alberto is a talented soccer player on Mayatan’s championship team and a solid student. Carlos is, however, seeking a sponsor to help fund his education. He has an older sister who attends the public colegio, which can be expensive. His father is unable to work due to a chronic respiratory condition, so Mom is the family breadwinner. His parents scrimp to pay for books and registration and are able to provide uniforms and meals at school. They are worried that Carlitos will not be able to attend secondary school without a sponsor.

Daniel comes from a very supportive family that lives down the road from Mayatan. They are so supportive, in fact, that his mother comes to school to drop off his lunch every day. Daniel’s father is a minister at a Baptist church who is deeply committed to the school, and Daniel works hard and makes friends easily. He adds character to the class with harmless mischief and a giant smile. A Mayatan education is a large expenditure on a minister’s salary in Honduras. Daniel is grateful to have a partial sponsor who covers his books, fees, and part of his tuition, but he and his family are hoping to find another sponsor to take an interest in his education.

Dora is the youngest of seven girls. Her single mother is a teacher in the public school, so she is responsile for many children at home and at work. Despite the tremendous responsibility and workload, she is raising wonderful daughters. Dora is a sharp student who used to enjoy sponsorship, but her sponsor was unable to continue making her contribution. This was a painful experience for everyone involved, and we all believe the Dora deserves and needs to keep working at her bilingual education.

Dulce Maria is one of the brightest, most eager kindergartners we have, which is no surprise given the house she grows up in. Her education is so important to her parents that they spend half of their income to send Dulce to Mayatan. Her Dad is a cashier at a bank, and whatever he and his wife pay towards their daughter's education is a true economic sacrifice. Because the family was paying half their income to keep Dulce in school and because Dulce showed so much promise, Mayatan was going to raise her scholarship to full tuition. Then a terrific sponsor from the United States came along and invested in Dulce's future. Thank you!

Everyone describes Dulce María as a sweet girl, just as her name would indicate (dulce means sweet in Spanish). She is a bright, artistic girl, and Mayatan's creatove offerings like dance exhibitions, music classes, and art leave her bright eyes dancing with joy and anticipation. Dulce has a brother and a sister who are much older. Her mother is a homemaker and her father works for Hondutel, a telephone company, but he is on verge of retirement. Both parents make it a priority to provide their daughter with the best education they can, but her father's job status makes that difficult. Dulce was lucky to find a partial sponsor in December of 2010, a great Christmas present for her, but we're hoping to round out her support this year.

Elisa is an immensely outgoing and friendly child who is never shy about expressing her opinions and her strong will. She overcame a childhood illness tha required leg surgery and a long recovery. Now, when Elisa likes something, she has no trouble putting all of her energy into it, such as dancing. Sometimes, however, she struggles with school. We think that Elisa needs the comfort and support of knowing that her education is funded to truly thrive as a student, and we hope that you will give her that chance too.

Elsa Berenice is not only one of the top-performing students at Mayatan, she is one of the top citizens. She is a nice, outgoing girl who lures you into conversation with her dry sense of humor in which she pretends to be very serious but may be concealing a joke.  She also has top English skills. Because of her good scholarship and citizenship, she claimed the honored position of Honduran flag-bearer and led the Independence Day parade last year. Elsa has two older brothers who also attend Mayatan; one is in 8th grade and the other is an 11th grader in our new high school. The family farms in Santa Rita and sacrifices a lot to provide their children with an English education. Elsa found a sponsor for the 2011-12 school year this fall!

Elsa is an extremely bright, vibrant child who is helpful to her fellow students and the kindergarten teacher. Her older sister, Erika, is a seventh grader at Mayatan. They live in Santa Rita with two other siblings and their mother, who teaches English at a public colegio. In Honduras, schools may run in shifts, and their mother carries three shifts to pay for her children's education. As you can imagine with four children and such a heavy workload, things are difficult. Their mother got a loan from the teacher's association to build a house, which she is working hard to pay off, and having her children's educations secured would help tremendously.

Erlin is a tremendously driven young man who works very hard to keep his grades above 80%. This is not always easy for a student who got a late start. He comes from a household of nine people who used to live across from Mayatan’s old location. Erlin’s grandfather was the school watchman, and the teachers fell in love with his grandchildren, who had no running water and often lacked food. When he has free time, he takes on work in housing construction to help his mother, who is now the sole breadwinner and works as a school janitor. Erlin has a newborn sibling; two of his brothers attend the public schools, and two also attended Mayatan. Erlin is one of those students whose education will truly make a difference to his family.

Fanny is a model fifth grader. She is responsible, respectful, and a great example to her peers. For example, Fanny is extremely conscientious about the neatness of her work, always turning in a perfect sheet of paper. As you’d expect, she is very organized too. An inquisitive girl, Fanny asks a lot of questions in class. She gets along very well socially, and she excels in English and reading. Fanny’s father works in a car mechanic’s shop, and her mother is a homemaker. She has a sister at the public school, and Fanny feels very lucky to be able to attend Mayatan thanks to her family’s hard work and the support of the school and its friends.

Fernanda has blossomed as a student this year. Naturally shy, she has gained confidence and opened up socially too, which has strengthened her English conversation skills. Teachers describe her as open, friendly, affable with them and with fellow students. Fernanda's mother is in the United States, so she lives with her grandmother and father, who works for the electrical company. Mayatan is happy to witness Fernanda's flourishing, and a dedicated supporter would really help her continue to expand her boundaries.

Sofia came to Mayatan mid-year during 2010-2011. She registered in the public schools as a first grader, but we started her at Pre-K to see let her adjust to Mayatan and beginning English skills. She is a sweet girl with parents who are highly enthusiastic about her receiving a bilingual education. Her father runs occasional tours for Hacienda San Lucas, a hotel, and her mother is a domestic. We all have high hopes for Sofia. Even though she had a slightly late start this year, she is off to a great start with her education.

Check out Fernanda Sophia's full story in this video, not to mention an online campaign to support her scholarship.

Fernando is an extremely outgoing student. He is always more than willing to participate and loves to talk about anything, just as long as he's practicing his English. His family is very supportive and always willing to do whatever it takes to help him stay on track at school. He enjoys painting, and in his free time he likes to play with cars. He lives in Copán Ruinas with his parents and sister. His mother is a waitress in a hotel in Copán, and the family needs the support of a scholarship to keep his future bright.

In November 2011, we found support for Gabriela's scholarship thanks to a generous grant from the Honduran government for students of indigenous backgrounds. It will be extended until 2013.

Gabriela is very bright and a good student, generally scoring in the top five of her class. She likes to draw, does her work, and gets along well with the other kids, though she is quiet. Gabriela comes from a poor family with many brothers and sisters. Some neighbors who used to work at Mayatan introduced Gabriela to the school and helped her apply for the scholarship. Her mother stays at home, occasionally helping in a bakery. Gabriela is the type of student who will make her family proud and for whom bilingual education will provide tremendous opportunities.

Ileany is a very intelligent and hardworking girl. She picks up concepts very quickly and loves to be challenged. She is creative, expressive and spends much of her free time helping her classmates. She is enthusiastic about Mayatan, even coming across teachers and staff in the street, and she loves to practice her English inside at outside school. Ileany’s father works at an NGO that brings development projects to the aldeas, but the salary for his good work is not enough to cover the full monthly cost of attending Mayatan.

Students and teachers consider Jeymy a lot of fun to be around. She’s smart young lady who enjoys language-based subjects – maybe because she enjoys talking in general. She has a great work attitude and always does more than asked. Jeymy is the best in her class at reading and shows her creativity in writing stories. Word is that her favorite day of the week is “doughnut day” at the school cafeteria (she’s not alone). Jeymy’s single mother is a dental assistant who is studying to be a nurse so that she can provide more to her children. The family lived with the grandfather up until this year, and they are trying to make ends meet.

Jonathan is a sweet, smiling kindergartener. His teachers notice that his cute little glasses make his eyes look big. Jonathan is often quiet but eager to participate in class, and he is meticulous with his schoolwork. He has good handwriting and likes coloring whenever he has the chance. Jonathan’s father works at the gas station in Copán, and his mother works at home as a seamstress. They could really use your help to keep providing their son with the tremendous opportunity of a bilingual education.

In November 2011, we found support for Jose Adelso's scholarship thanks to a generous grant from the Honduran government for students of indigenous backgrounds.

Jose lives in El Carrizal, a small aldea in the hills 3 miles above Copán. His grandmother walks him down the hill to school every day. When he was younger, she would sit and wait for him until school was out. Given the care that his grandmother puts into his education, it is no surprise that he is such a thoughtful student. He’s conscientious about his studies and especially his books, which he carefully protects from weather, wear, and termite damage. In fact, he loves books so much that he wanted to have a Library Week t-shirt but didn’t have the money. Undeterred, he carved wooden tops himself and sold them to raise the balance. Jose has a sponsor that covers part of his costs: books, registration, fees, and a part of his tuition. He needs support for meals and the rest of his tuition from someone who cares about students the way he cares about books.

Karledi lives in a poor hamlet outside of Copán called Ricon del Buey (Ox Corner). Her father, Tulio, is a moto-taxi driver, which is a poor living. She is an only child, and her mother, Fátima, has great aspirations for her. Fátima is a community leader. She's worked as a waitress, but recently finished her high school diploma in administration, which she hopes will lead to better work even though she hasn't found it yet. Both parents are very involved in Karledi's education. They believe in hard work and hard studying and that, with education, everything is possible. Tulio taught himself some Enlgish to help his work with tourists, and he's proud that his daughter has the benefit of learning the language in school and being prepared for a brighter future.

Keysi is a good student who pleases her teachers. They report that she is a little shy but gaining more confidence every week. Keysi’s mom is a housewife and her dad is a laborer. He buys cows and sells the beef to bring in a little extra money, but he usually works for local landowners. Although they don’t have tremendous resources, her family works hard to pay half of the tuition costs, but they need assistance with the remainder. We’re all hoping for a sponsor who can help ensure that Keysi continues her good start.

Mayatan was lucky enough to receive its first ever grant in the 2011-12 school year from the Honduran government to support indigenous student scholarships. This grant will be renewed in 2012-13. It covers tuition for the La Pintada children during that time. Additional donations will cover extra costs like meals and uniforms and be credited forward in the students' accounts.

Several years ago, Mayatan committed to educate four children from the indigenous village of La Pintada that Peace Corps volunteers introduced to the school. Even if the La Pintada children don't get sponsors, the school supports them with full tuition, uniforms, fees, transportation, and food. Both the children and Mayatan have been lucky to receive great students from caring families with few resources. They help each other by going through the ranks of Mayatan together.

The children make great sacrifices just to get here; because no buses can reach La Pintada, they leave home at 5 a.m. and walk 45 minutes to just to catch the bus. All of their parents are very supportive of their children’s educations. They have no money, but they participate in every school activity despite the distance, and they use dictionaries to translate their children’s assignments so they can help.

It is quite expensive for Mayatan to educate children from La Pintada, and just as their community pools its resources to help them, we pool donations to the children. The annual cost is $10,000 for the group, or $2500 a child. We pool together resources every year to help sponsor these children.

Milton Daniel comes from a large, poor family. His mother doesn’t read or write, but she is proud that her son can. Milton doesn’t have electricity at home, so he sometimes struggles to do homework at night. He was hit by a moto walking to school in the dark one day, but we’re thankful that he is fine.

Sara Yaquelin’s father started a program to teach Chorti, the indigenous language of the La Pintada community which is at risk of dying out. For Sara and some of her classmates, then, English is a third language, and she is becoming tri-lingual, which will be an immense help to her community.

Harlyn Elizeth’s mother earns money by making corn husk dolls, flowers, and textiles to sell at La Pintada and in Copán. She got her start through a government program to teach crafts to people from the aldeas, and her handicrafts are popular tourist purchases.

Kensy Elizabeth’s mother got her start running a small restaurant in La Pintada through a microloan program that stimulates indigenous businesses with small cash advances. Her mother’s chicken and fish are particularly well-known.

Leonardo is a dreamer with an aptitude for math and science, not to mention art, which runs in his family. He has good handwriting to match his drawing skills, and he always turns in perfect homework. His father is a woodworker and painter who made many of the signs at Mayatan. Leonardo’s Dad also makes crafts like mirrors, painted frames, and handcrafted boxes to sell at souvenir shops. His mother is a public school teacher in Santa Rita. Leonardo has a sister in second grade who just started at Mayatan, and we’re proud to host two children from this creative family.

Litzy is a charming girl who constantly smiles. Teachers notice that she is a good friend to her peers and a solid student. She was awarded a half-tuition scholarship this year because of the family’s financial situation. Her mother is a waitress in town. Her father was earning money in the U.S., but he came back to stay with the family when the economy turned. Litzy’s dad just got a brand new job in the Hotel Marina Copan working the front desk.

Lourdes was lucky enough in 2010-2011 to attract donations to cover the entire cost of her education for this year. She will still be seeking sponsorship for 2011-12, however. Lourdes’s teachers describe her as a really sweet girl with charmingly adult mannerisms. She is quick-minded, and she worked hard to improve at math by staying late for tutoring. Mayatan raised Lourdes’s need so that her family could afford to send her brother, Jose Luis, to the high school. Not that Lourdes doesn't deserve a scholarship: she is tremendously bright and outgoing, and she always appears on the honor roll. Her parents run a very small hotel in Copán, Hotel Don Moises, and she has two younger brothers.

Ludy is a quiet, thoughtful girl and a diligent student with remarkable classroom concentration. She also likes to help the teacher by encouraging her classmates to be as respectful and hard-working as she is. Even so, she does this charmingly, with an infectious smile, and her classmates like her. Ludy receives partial payment from the family of her 2nd grade teacher, which covers almost half of her need. Her mother works for the Copán anthropological park as a ticket-taker, and her father is a part-time driver. Ludy was the "India Bonita" for Folklore Day one year, and we aim to keep this deserving student’s scholarship running for many Folklore Days to come.

Luisa has just become eligible for a scholarship, and we're happy to have her on board. She came to Mayatan through her aunt, who speaks fluent English and knows the value of a bilingual education. Luisa's aunt is currently working in the United States and sending back enough money to cover half of her lucky niece's tuition and expenses, but we're looking for a sponsor to help pay for the rest. Hard work and planning run in the family; we hope to encourage Luisa’s development along these lines for years to come. Help this first-grader follow her family's dreams.

María Fernanda brings a mix of playfulness and helpfulness to the classroom. She always sets aside time and energy helping out classmates who may be confused about a lesson. She smiles and reads in equal measure, and teachers describe her as sweet, sympathetic, and wanting everyone to do well. Her brother, Angel David, is a second grade student here, and her parents cover his full tuition, which is a sacrifice on a minister’s salary. María has a small sponsorship that needs to be supplemented with additional contributions to cover her tuition. We truly hope that this really bright girl finds another sponsor to help her the way she helps others in class.

María José is an artistic and free-spirited girl who always has a smile on her face, and she aims to please everyone around her. As a student, she is calm, attentive, and quick to learn. Little can damper her spirits, and one compliment will brighten her spirits for the rest of the day. She lives with her mother and grandparents, who are able to pay for part of her expenses, but she still needs help with her tuition. Her mother is a kindergarten teacher in Quebracho, an aldea north of Copan Ruinas. We’re hoping that the compliments of a sponsor will help to brighten her career at Mayatan.

María José comes from Sesemil, an aldea in the mountains several miles above Copán along very rough roads. The family had to move to Sesesmil because of mother's work as a teacher in Malcote, and to take care of mother's father, who was ailing. Despite the distance and troubles like suffering the loss of two children, her father is involved in María’s education. This support helps her through some tough experiences. María José lives with her grandmother during the week to be closer to school. Everyone is working together to give this bright youngster a good start.

Marilin is a quiet, attentive student and a quick learner. Her original award was for a half scholarship, but her top-notch academics and financial situation have convinced us to raise the amount. Marilin lives with her single mom, and she is lucky enough to have part of her tuition covered by a local business. Even with this scholarship, however, she required help to pay for books and registration, and we were looking for a generous sponsor to help with the rest. We found that sponsor in  2011, and we're excited indeed. Marilin has no further need for sponsorship thanks to this help.

Marlon is an intense soccer player, fun to be around, and a successful student. He lives in Santa Rita, a town about 8 miles from Copán with no bilingual school of its own. Marlon plays the bass drum in the school band, and he had a blast banging out deep percussive rhythms during the Independence Day march. Marlon’s father, who has an auto repair shop, is remarried with more children; he pays what he can towards his son's education, but we’re looking for an enthusiastic sponsor to help Marlon continue his education.

Marlon is a very intelligent and creative student. He comes from a large household in one of the poorest areas of Copán that includes his grandfather, three older brothers, and two younger brothers. Being part of a large, exuberant family has made Marlon someone who is eager to help others. Although he is one of the bigger students in class, he can be shy in a large group; nevertheless, he is more than willing to express himself one on one or in small groups. He loves to play soccer and is good goalie. Marlon’s mother is the sole breadwinner in the family, but she has just had a baby and is not working now, which makes this a particularly important time for him to find outside support. Because the family cannot pay, he needs a completa scholarship, which includes books, fees, and meals. Marlon has a great sponsor who covers tuition and many fees, but he has other needs as well.

In November 2011, we found support for Marlon's scholarship thanks to a generous grant from the Honduran government for students of indigenous backgrounds. It will be extended until 2013. Any extra donations will cover Marlon's costs like uniforms and meals or be credited forward to future years.

Marvin came to Mayatan in 2009 following the death of his father. It’s a joy to have this extroverted, energetic student on hand. Marvin also has an older brother in 3rd grade here. His single mother manages as many of her son’s educational expenses as she can, but she has asked for help. The family had been living in San Pedro Sula, a large industrial city in Honduras, but they moved back to Copán following the father’s death. The father's company was supposed to contribute to Marvin’s education, but this never came through, and the mother was robbed of most of her savings on the bus to Copán from San Pedro. Marvin loves soccer and is the youngest on a Mayatan team composed mainly of fifth graders.

Oscar is an energetic student who likes to draw and enjoys math. His father lives and works in the United States and is able to pay half of Oscar’s tuition. Oscar lives with his mother, who has remarried and has a daughter. She owns a beauty salon in Copán, and business isn’t going so well during this economic downturn, and even with Dad’s contribution it is a sacrifice to keep Oscar in school. Oscar occasionally struggles in English, but he comes in for tutoring to do better. He is a boy who really needs the opportunity that Mayatan can offer him and his family.

Othoniel’s family emigrated to the United states when he was a baby. He attended school there for some time until his parents got divorced, after which he returned to Copán with his father. The father is a now a single dad looking for a job, and it was very important to him that his son continue the bilingual education he'd started abroad. As you might expect, Othoniel has excellent English skills, though he has to work a little harder than some kids on his Spanish. You might not expect a student who spent time in the States to be a tremendous soccer player, but Othoniel excels on the field. Sponsorship would help Othoniel follow his father’s dreams and keep growing at Mayatan.

Raul Ernesto is an attentive, driven student who is also quite outgoing. His civic and academic talents make him a natural student leader. He loves sports so much that he is always on good behavior so that he can have the full recess time to play soccer. Raul is new to our scholarship system because of his parents’ financial situation. His mother just had a baby and stays at home to take care of it, and his father lost his primary job, as has happened to many in and around Copán. The family runs a small copy shop, but business is slow business of the economy, and they are struggling to pay their son’s tuition. Raul would make any sponsor proud.

Raul enjoys school immensely, and in return Mayatan students and teachers enjoy him. Raul has been described as the “sweetest, most wonderful boy,” hard-working, always smiling, and has lots of friends. He comes from a poor family, but they work hard to contribute as much as they can to Mayatan every month. The family lives in Santa Rita, where Raul’s father is a chauffeur. Raul is looking for a sponsor who can carry him through primary school and onto the successful secondary career that we know he can have.

Rita is an extremely intelligent girl who works hard in all her classes and is beginning to come into her own. She is a quick reader who loves to go to the library, write in her journal, and share what she's written, which is something that most students of any age find intimidating. Rita suffers from asthma, which is difficult to treat for many families in Copán, but she is overcoming it. Rita’s older sister graduated from Mayatan and is presently attending university in San Pedro Sula. Her mother is a kindergarten teacher, and her father is a bus driver for our school. A student as smart and achieving as Rita, if given the opportunity, will certainly be able to join her sister at university or move on to some other promising future.

Roberto Carlos is whip smart. Actually, one teacher described him as “genius,” but let's not let him get a big head. Roberto knows the answers to everything the class covers and is almost always the first to finish his work. Sometimes he finishes the work so quickly that he gets antsy, but everything he hands in is perfect. Often high-performing students can be reserved and shy, but this is not the case with Roberto, who is warm and outgoing, with a great sense of humor. Even though he more than holds his own in the classroom, Roberto requires financial assistance. His father is a carpenter, and his mother stays at home, occasionally helping her mother in law run her fried chicken restaurant.

Sara Jasmin’s parents lost their jobs in 2009 when the Japanese government froze funding for a project they worked on during the political crisis that year. Although the crisis has abated, the support for the project has not returned, and the family continues to suffer the repercussions for events outside of their control. Sara is an excellent student, and her family is truly grateful for the scholarship that will allow their daughter to stay in school. They are very involved in Sara’s education and lead parent meetings. Sara Jasmin’s father had the honor of carrying the flag for the kindergarten during the Independence Day parade because his daughter was one of the top students.

Sofia is a bright and enthusiastic student with who lives with her grandparents in town. Don't let her dry sense of humor give you the wrong impression – although she may seem to be very serious at first, her playful teasing of friends and teachers leaves everyone in stitches. Her mother has remarried and lives in Santa Rita now, about 20 minutes away. Sofia's grandparents, who own a pulperia (a food and general store often located in the front room of a home), are deeply involved in her education, giving her the support she needs to succeed at Mayatan. Sofia would also benefit from the support of a sponsor to carry her into secondary school.

Sweet and soft-spoken, Stephanie has a great attitude about learning. She is also known around school because everyone says she has great hair. Her mother is a cook in a restaurant, and her father is a part-time mechanic and a truck driver who delivers construction materials. The family makes a big sacrifice for their daughter’s education; in addition to fees and supplies, they pay a tutor L100 an hour to make sure their daughter passes her classes and keeps her scholarship. Stephanie receives some funds from a sponsor, but she needs $915 to round out her tuition. We know she will work hard to live up to the generosity of her family and supporters.

Vanessa is funny and confident in addition to being an above average student with great English skills. She spent several months in the United States during one period, and her English was so good that, when she went to school, she was placed in an English-speaking rather than a bilingual classroom. Vanessa’s up-tempo personality always lets her find the humor in a situation, and it keeps her dancing too. (A current favorite is Justin Bieber, although that will pass!) She has two brothers, Renecito and Miguel, who also attend Mayatan. Her father works for the Hotel Marina Copán, which contributes to part of her tuition. She found a generous sponsor of the 2011-2012 school year, so she can join her brothers in receiving a world-class education.

Yaira is a spunky, creative student who does well when she puts her mind to it. Teachers say that she is really starting to come out of her shell. Yaira has an older sister who attends Mayatan as a 7th grader, and it is an achievement for the family to have two children in school. Yaira’s father is a painter, and the parents own a souvenir shop, which is struggling due to the economic downturn and lack of tourism in Copán. We hope that the benefit of a bilingual education will afford both daughters opportunities to succeed in many areas of the economy.