I'm in Guatemala with our Learning Journey group. They just spent three full 

days in Concepción getting to know this indigenous Maya community, their

culture, traditions and history as well as our reading promoters, their families

and homes -- connecting at a very personal and heartfelt level. Promoters 

and visitors alike were sad to see it end. (See link below for photos.)

I had the opportunity this morning to chat with Julio César, one of our 

second-year reading promoters. He shared with me that he had been 

planning on studying music until he began reading to the children in 

Concepción through our Leaders and Readers program. The joy and 

satisfaction this work gives him convinced him that he should become a 

teacher, and he changed his course of study. 

Yesterday Julio's best friend Carlos, a first-year promoter, told him he was 

confused about what he wanted to study. He'd always thought he'd become 

a mechanic, but comments from various of the visitors on theLearning 

Journey made him think he should consider being a teacher. (I have to say, 

Carlos is amazingly talented at bringing stories to life for the children!) 

Then Julio said, "You know the phrase on the Reading Village logo, 

Transforming Lives through Literacy? It really is true. My life has changed 

because of Reading Village and now Carlos's life is being impacted as well."

All of our teens have grown tremendously in ability, self-confidence and self-

awareness. Watch Maribel's face light up with pride in a two-minute video (link below) 

as she talks about the success she is enjoying as a reading promoter.   

Thank you for all you do to bring the joy of reading to children,

Linda

Links:

• Photos of Learning Journey
• 2-Minute Video of Maribel