Unity 4 Orphans’ Education 4 Change program in Central America has grown tremendously in the past year, opening a new location and strengthening our flagship ESL program in Central America.
We’ve been emphasizing the importance of our partner network throughout Latin America as it continues to expand. For the past eight years, our partner Lai has been running an ESL program on weekends for vulnerable children. As we near the first anniversary of opening an additional location, we’re excited to share updates about how far the program has come and the potential to help more kids.
ESL School in Central America Serving Vulnerable Children for 8 Years
When our Central American partner Lai first began the English as a second language program, she had 80 students. As conditions became more difficult leading up to a civil war in 2018, attendance decreased but she continued to teach as much as possible. When the pandemic began in 2020 she began online classes to keep her students connected and engaged.
God’s grace, favor, and love have been with me throughout the process. Despite the challenges of civil war and the pandemic, the program is still going. The students and parents continue believing in us and our students are speaking English so well that others want to learn to speak like them.
–Lai, Program Director
Word continues to spread about the quality of education Lai and her team provide, as well as the holistic approach U4O stands for. Our Central America program partners help the students learn discipline and give them additional tools they don’t receive in public schools. They push them to study and teach them about respect, instilling values to help them succeed.
English as a Second Language Classes Multiply Opportunities
This spring the program expanded to welcome younger students than we’ve historically worked with, from ages seven to nine years old. Our student-turned-teacher Yanelis is teaching this new group, an example of the ripple effect of the ESL program. The desire for parents to have their children learn English is responsible for the recent growth in the program.
Sometimes parents ask if there are places for their kids in our program and ask about the future. I can tell you right now that if we open another group, I can fill it.
–Lai, Program Director
As students continue to share their triumphs learning English, earning better grades, and building healthier relationships, word travels fast. Lai is an avid believer in the value of English as the international language. Speaking English can double or triple income opportunities for children throughout Central America.
Opening Additional ESL Programs Helps Lift Kids Out of Poverty
A core part of our mission is identifying people who feel called to serve children living in difficult circumstances, including poverty and lack of educational opportunities. Our ESL program can be a challenge for educators who either lack transportation or don’t want to travel the three-hour round trip from larger cities like Managua and Leon.
When Lai opened the program to more students this spring it doubled in size. One of the reasons she was able to add to this program is the parents heard such good things about kids who graduated from the program. One of our biggest prayers is that teachers will feel called to both locations in Central America so that Lai can hire more teachers and we can increase our budget.
–Caitlin Snyder, Executive Director
Despite challenges in establishing and operating the ESL school over the past eight years, God has proven faithful at every turn. Lai and her team’s dedication inspires us to continue the work we do in Central America and future sites throughout Central America. We look forward to sharing more exciting updates!