CEDIN principal and teacher

Monica has a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education. She has extensive knowledge of the Montessori method, reading strategies, and literacy for children ages 4-6. Nancy Rittmaster de España initially trained her in child education, and since then Monica has spent 19 years working in CEDIN. Monica enjoys using new teaching strategies to encourage child development. She incorporates sports at home and with the children and invents poems and songs. Currently she studies at San Carlos University with the aim of completing a masters degree.

Grade teacher

Claudia is a primary school teacher graduated from Instituto Normal para Señoritas Olimpia Leal in Antigua, Guatemala. 21 years ago she was informed about a vacancy for a teacher in CEDIN and decided to submit her application. After the interview with the Board of Directors, she was asked to start work in June 1997. She enjoys using the education materials with her students and being present to help in both their nice and difficult moments.  Claudia wants to complete a bachelors degree at San Carlos University and continue working in CEDIN to prepare children to succeed in education and life.

Claudia is married and has three children, all graduated from CEDIN: her older daughter is 22 and finishing law studies, her middle daughter is 17 and graduating this year from high school, and her youngest son is 15 and finishing secondary school.

Teacher assistant

Xiomara graduated from high school as an accountant. She did her internship in CEDIN and later was offered a position as a teacher assistant.

She enjoys working with children; they spread joy and to see them smiling has no price. It is very rewarding to see their progress. Xiomara´s goal is to complete a bachelors degree in early childhood education.

Teacher assistant

Merlin graduated from high school as an accountant.

She works in CEDIN because she feels a sense of satisfaction when she sees children developing their knowledge and skills.

She received information about the position in CEDIN from Silvia Aracely García Pérez and was hired in February 2011. She likes working in CEDIN as it´s the first and most important level of child education.

Merlin’s plan for the future is to finish university studies and continue in the field of child development.

Teacher assistant

Deyssi is currently studying early childhood education at San Carlos University.

She works in CEDIN as it´s the first and most important step in children’s education where they develop good habits for learning.

Deyssi has been working in CEDIN since 2009 when one of the teachers passed her information about an open position.

She likes working in CEDIN. She enjoys teaching children, playing with them, and learning from them. Her students show her a lot of affection; sometimes she feels like their mother or aunt. It´s very rewarding when parents tell her that their children learned a lot or that they feel happy coming to CEDIN.

After receiving a bachelors degree, Deyssi wants to pursue a masters degree in early childhood education.

Music and computer classes teacher

When she was a third grade primary student, Eugenia received a scholarship from FUNDIT. The music program inspired her to study music education in high school and do her internship in CEDIN. After graduating, the director of CEDIN, Silvia Aracely García Pérez, offered her work as a music teacher, later adding computer classes as well.

She likes working with children; they require a lot of attention and good class preparation.  Working in CEDIN also gives her the opportunity to study in the evenings.

Eugenia´s plan is to finish a bachelors degree in musical education with a specialty in marimba.

CEDIN secretary and FUNDIT accountant

Odilia graduated from high school as an accountant.

She has been working for FUNDIT since 2003. During the past 14 years she feels satisfied with her work as it allows her to develop professionally and dedicate time to the family. She is very grateful to Silvia Aracely García Pérez for the trust given to her when employing and working with her.

Odilia enjoys working for FUNDIT because she sees the influence it has for the future of the children and youth of El Tejar.

One of her mayor dreams is to finish the construction of her house so that she can devote more of her income to the education of her children.

Cleaning person

Marcelina finished a high school level course as a chef and dessert-preparer.

She was unemployed for almost 2 years before she found out that Nancy was looking for a chef. She has now spent 21 years working in CEDIN.

She always liked preparing meals for the children. After that she stayed on as a cleaning person. She likes this work, trying to keep everything in order.

Marcelina expects to be in good health to serve El Tejar’s children for many more years.

Library coordinator

Liliana attended high school with a focus on Sciences and Letters with a Computer Orientation.

She has been working in the FUNDIT library for 5 years. She started as a volunteer in the reading programs and then began to work as a library assistant.

She likes her job, especially fostering the habit of reading in children, as at present books are used less every day. She feels dedicated to work for the benefic of the community, providing the best service to all library users.

Liliana has many plans for the future. One of them is graduating from the university to be able to support the most vulnerable people of the community.

Library assistant

Yoselin is an early education intercultural teacher, currently studying early education at San Carlos University.

She is working in the library because a friend mentioned the job and she was interested in learning new things.

She likes the atmosphere in the library and the contact with community members of all ages who participate in the library programs.

She wants to finish her university studies to be economically stable and have professional development opportunities.

Cleaning person

Elsa completed the sixth grade of primary school.

When the municipality cut funds for the position she held there, she was contacted by FUNDIT.

She likes the team and the atmosphere in the library.

Her plan for the future is to continue studying and working to support her children’s education.

Sara is a music program coordinator, as well as a flute and mandolin teacher.

She graduated as a music teacher and has a bachelors degree in secondary education with an emphasis on music from San Carlos University.

Sara was a participant and director of several chorus groups and bands. She worked in two primary schools and one private school for many years. Since 2007 she has coordinated the FUNDIT music program. Sara and her students participated in the LEAF festival in Asheville, North Carolina, in 2012.

She wants to increase the artistic level of the music students and spread information about the program in order to reach all interested and talented students.

Marimba and violin teacher

Estefany started participating in music program classes in 2000 when she was 10. The program was shortly discontinued due to a lack of funds, but when it was reinstated in 2008, Estefany chose to continue her adventure with music and returned to assist in flute classes. She was studying in high school with a focus on music. She graduated in 2009 and started working for FUNDIT as a guitar and keyboard teacher in 2010.

Estefany participated twice in the LEAF festival in Asheville, North Carolina: in 2012 as a participant and in 2014 as a group director.

In 2017 she started running marimba and violin classes.

She has bachelors degree in secondary education with an emphasis in music.

One of her goals is to promote Guatemalan culture and its national instrument, the marimba, in other countries.

Keyboard teacher

Edwin was born in Chimaltenango. He is a teacher of music education, has a masters degree in biblical and theological studies with a focus on communication, and is a member of the Evangelic Ministers Association in Guatemala.

He plays keyboard in different bands and churches, teaches audio principles, computer music editing, piano, guitar, bass, ukulele, and audio and video editing; and is a director of several choruses and founder of Edlia Studio.

Edward started working with the FUNDIT music program in 2018. His aim is to support musical talent as well as the integral development of his students through music.

Guitar teacher

Ruben was born in San Juan Comalapa and has a bachelors degree in secondary education with a music orientation from the University del Valle in Guatemala. He has 19 years of music teaching experience, working in private schools in Guatemala City and leading choruses and bands.  Ruben is currently working as the administrator of Artemusic Academy in a private school called Colegio La Vid, as well as teaching guitar classes in FUNDIT’s music program.  He wants to teach students not only to play a musical instrument but also to enjoy it.

Teacher assistant

Sara is 17 years old.  She started participating in the music program when she was 10. As a talented and disciplined student, she was chosen to participate in the LEAF festival in North Carolina in 2012 and 2015.  In 2017 Sara started high school in science and literature with a music orientation and has excellent grades. She was awarded a scholarship in 2018.  Sara dreams of obtaining a masters degree in music with a violin specialization and playing in a symphony orchestra.

Teacher assistant

Helen is 16 and has been participating in music classes since she was 8 years old, starting with flute and now playing mandolin. She says that in music you always learn something new. In 2017 Helen was part of the group representing our program at the LEAF festival in North Carolina, which was a great experience for her. This year Helen started high school with a music focus and is happy about learning to play a variety of instruments. Helen wants to thank all the FUNDIT donors for making this musical adventure possible for her and other young people.