A United Community

In the Pavarotti Education Center students, teachers and all faculty members are united like a big family. Even with a group of volunteers including myself, we are always welcomed by all the students in the center. With this, it encompasses the term “solidarity,” especially through the different challenges that present themselves due to limited resources. The issue that makes it apparent is that students learn well without the use of the Internet, usually, lessons are done with the use of the whiteboard and actual exercises on paper. Additionally, they also present their own presentations to practice the English language. The largest issue as explained is lower income, hence fewer resources such as internet and air-conditioned classrooms. Yet, students remain eager to learn and do not let this impede them in the way of becoming further efficient with the English language. With us as volunteers, in the class with Ms. Mayra, it is me and two other volunteers. The students treat us with the same respect as the teachers here in Pavarotti, despite being closer to them as friends since we are only here to facilitate the class with the main teacher. It goes to represent the factor of “solidarity,” or community existent here in Pavarotti, specifically with the teachers and students here in the center. The sense of income inequality is especially apparent not only within Pavarotti itself, but also San Lucas. This area is beautiful because of Lake Atitlan amongst other cultural characteristics, despite several of the community residents coming from lower income backgrounds, and the environmental challenges with the lake regarding high water contamination. Yet, students within Pavarotti are united by the sense that they wish to learn, despite the scarcity of certain resources due to income and other challenges.