School Kids at CasaSito
CasaSito Association Empowers Underprivileged Children in Guatemala
In a secluded part of San Cristóbal, Guatemala, Abner Abisai Mace Tut, a student at CasaSito, lives in a humble clapboard house with a dirt floor and no running water. Despite these challenges, Abner's long-term dream is to become a forensic criminologist, driven by his patience and observational skills.
Abner's parents often work away from home, with his father working in another town during the week and his mother being away for months undergoing cancer treatment procedures. During their absences, Abner takes on the role of the man of the house, caring for his sisters, ensuring they are fed, and overseeing their schoolwork, in addition to handling his own academic workloads for school and CasaSito.
CasaSito Association is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting education and creating opportunities for children in Guatemala. Their mission is to improve the lives of underprivileged children by providing access to quality education, resources, and programs that foster learning and personal development. Through community involvement, fundraising, and partnerships, CasaSito aims to break the cycle of poverty and empower children to build a brighter future for themselves and their communities.
The program at CasaSito includes a variety of courses and workshops, such as debate clubs, art workshops, student-produced theater, Math, and English language courses. CasaSito's lessons are designed to have immediate, real-world applicability and are often relevant to the daily lives of the students.
The students at CasaSito carry a light about the possibility of achieving their goals, helping their families, and contributing to their communities. This light, as Dayana Rivero, a photographer who visited Guatemala in 2022 to document the work of CasaSito Association, puts it, "will never dim."
CasaSito social workers maintain regular communication with Abner and conduct house visits to discuss his academic performance, goals, and emotional health. All CasaSito students are assigned counselors who keep close track of their progress and often become extended members of the students' families.
For Abner, education and opportunity matter most. As he prepares for his final year as a CasaSito student, his short-term goal is to do his best. His hope is that this light will never dim, not just for him, but for all the children at CasaSito who dream of a brighter future. As Dayana Rivero states, "Education and opportunity matter, and they matter most for children like the ones I met in CasaSito."
Programs like CasaSito provide a singular opportunity for underprivileged children in impoverished areas, drastically impacting the course of their lives. If you would like more specific details about their projects, history, or how to get involved, feel free to ask!
- Abner, an aspiring forensic criminologist and student at CasaSito, is a conduit for education and personal growth in his challenging home, setting an example as he balances his responsibilities and academic pursuits.
- CasaSito's educational programs, featuring art workshops, debate clubs, and English language courses, provide a beacon for community development, empowering underprivileged children and cultivating their desire for education-and-self-development.
- The CasaSito Association, a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering learning and personal-growth, aims to break the cycle of poverty through community involvement, educational initiatives, and a focus on personalized support for each student.
