A planted seed takes time to grow and bear fruit. Aprender y Crecer has been planting seeds since 2006, and now some of the first students to benefit from the program are entering college or the workforce. Two of the program's alumni, who are continuing their studies today, shared their stories of how Aprender y Crecer had an impact on them.
Marbel Yolanda García Sotoj, now 18, received school supplies from Aprendery Crecer from first through sixth grade. She is currently studying chemical engineering at the Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala, Guatemala's oldest and largest university.
As a student, receiving Learning and Growing supplies taught me responsibility. I knew that the supplies were provided for a specific purpose: my success. Receiving school supplies made me more grateful, not only for my family, but also for the program and for society in general.
For my family, the supplies were a great source of financial support. Since my family did not have to buy supplies, they were able to buy other important things we needed. For my teachers, the supplies meant more creative and engaging lessons. For me, the most memorable part of the program was the donated library books. I nurtured my love of reading, thanks to the Learn and Grow books and stories that were in my school library; today, I still love to fully immerse myself in the amazing world of books! And because of my love for reading, I continue to succeed in my studies.
Receiving the Learning and Growing supplies inspired me with the accountability and discipline I needed to achieve my goals. While it is true that a child's overall well-being depends on many factors, education is the foundation of any real social change. And a child who received support becomes an adult who will seek change and replicate what was provided to them in their youth.
Jaime Rodrigo Miranda, now 20 years old, received school supplies from Aprender y Crecer from fourth to sixth grade. He is currently studying medicine at the Universidad Autónoma de Chiriquí in Panama.
"It was significant to know that in order to study I didn't have to worry about being able to afford the supplies. Both my brother and I benefited from Aprender y Crecer, and my family was able to meet other needs (such as food and clothing)."
The supplies also had a great effect on my classmates. No one felt left out in the classroom as everyone had the same supplies. I remember how excited we were especially about the notebooks - every year I would exchange them with my classmates so that all of mine would be the same color!
The help should be appreciated to the fullest. It really motivated me to see that, among many schools, mine had been fortunate enough to receive support from the program. I knew I had to study and take advantage of this privilege as much as I could. I hope PriceSmart continues to provide this support. It helps many students who, when they see that they have the tools they need to study, are motivated to make an effort, move forward and succeed.
