12:00pm: I arrive at school, sweaty and sticky from riding my bike in the hot sun. I say a quick “buenas tardes” to Mari and Sugeidy at reception, give a wave to Catherine through her window, and make my way upstairs to the library.

2:30pm: After lesson planning and lunch, I hear a soft knock on the door of the library and see the top of a fuzzy little head with two bright eyes looking at me through the window.Senir, come in! How are you today?Teacher! Boooook.He hands me his book with a big grin on his face. It’s the same Dinosaurs nonfiction book he’s checked out a few times already. Senir, one of our scholarship students, loves dinosaurs. I find him another dino-riffic book and we set up Uno to play until his class starts.

3:00pm: Through the door, I can hear the giggles, shouts, and general rumble of the students downstairs. Their voices echo just so that I can’t make out anything they’re saying, but their excitement is infectious.Time to go downstairs to class!Yes. ¡Clase de inglés!Until March, this was a pretty typical beginning to a pretty typical day at Na’atik. There’s something magical about how the energy of a space completely changes when it is filled with students. As they trickle in before class, the busy silence of lesson planning is broken as the lobby starts to buzz with chatter.Now, as we approach 7 months since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, our Na’atik community is missing the joy and enthusiasm that our students bring to our school. As I’ve adjusted to this new reality of not being able to see students in person, I’ve seen how quickly I can get stuck in the sadness and anxiety of the moment that we are living right now. With so many questions swirling in my head and so many worries, the thing that really keeps me going is the glimmer of hope that there is still so much we can do to support our students, even if we can’t be physically together.I’ve been so inspired by educators all around the world who are finding new creative ways to engage with students and continue to provide support during this difficult time. From the YouTube Bedtime Stories to the Engineering Project where we made bridges out of toothpicks, I have seen our students respond incredibly well to virtual learning, despite its obstacles. Their willingness to learn and patience through this entire process has further increased my sincere belief that the future is in good hands.After all, we should be setting up the next generation to outdo us in every way possible. I have no doubts that they will be more compassionate, more informed, and maybe even more multilingual than ever before. The most exciting thing is that I know we can do that. We can make that happen by supporting their aspirations and giving them the opportunity to access equitable education.When I came to Carrillo last October, I was 2-weeks fresh out of the Peace Corps in Mozambique. I took this opportunity with Na’atik because it was one of the only organizations I had found which truly appeared to be integrated in the community in a meaningful way. It wasn’t easy for me to decide what my next move would be after Peace Corps because I couldn’t imagine working in the headquarters at a large NGO, making plans for projects far from home in places I might never even visit. I don’t doubt that those organizations are doing meaningful work, but it just didn’t seem like my work.I am proud to be part of the team here at Na’atik. The reason why I am so motivated by what we do is that every decision we make and every message we put out there is informed by our mission to create global citizens and foster multicultural, multinational, multilingual understanding. We are grassroots and committed to seeing our students thrive. Now, more than ever, we are working together to build each other up and find ways to stay connected.Along with the disastrous effects of climate change and political instability, this pandemic has disproportionately affected communities all around the world that were already in a more vulnerable position. Job insecurity, economic hardship, and lack of access to technology has put a lot of strain on families here in Carrillo, as it has for those living in poverty around the world. I think I speak for our whole team at Na’atik when I say that it weighs heavily on us that many of our students are unable to continue learning with us because of the economic impact of the pandemic.One way we are hoping to ease the strain is to provide devices and safe spaces at the school in order to ensure that lack of access to technology is not a barrier for students who want to learn. Additionally, our Emergency Maya Youth Scholarships are going to students who wouldn’t otherwise be able to continue to be a part of our programming.I have to believe that we are doing everything we can right now to lift each other up and give meaning to the idea that a better world is possible. Not only do I think Na’atik is in a position to make a positive impact, but I believe in our ability to persevere during this difficult period. Being able to support our students depends on the generosity of our extended community worldwide, along with the contributions of our team here. Donating means supporting our vibrant community and the individuals who bring life to our organization. Our work at Na’atik goes beyond providing English classes to our students, it allows the community here in Carrillo, Mexico, to continue to work together to build a brighter future. 

A note from Na'atik:As a nonprofit language school, our English classes are already highly subsidized through our donors and Spanish and Maya classes, and our Maya Youth (MY) scholarship program allows 35 students in need to attend classes.Additionally, we aim to add another $5000 of Emergency Scholarships in order to support our students who would be otherwise unable to return to Na’atik due to the impact of the pandemic. If you can donate, please click on the button below.