When Emilio Us Vicente recently walked the halls of the Mario Méndez Montenegro School in Guatemala he did not do so as a student, but as a PriceSmart employee volunteering his time for the Aprender y Crecer program. Now 20 years old, Emilio came back to his school wearing a blue T-shirt, a huge smile and with a lump in his throat: he was about to deliver books and school supplies at the same school where he received them years ago.
"I was so excited. It made me happy to see all the teachers who taught me," recalls Emilio, who today works as a cashier's assistant at the PriceSmart club in Guatemala City’s Zone 5.
Emilio began receiving school supplies from Aprender y Crecer when he was in 5th grade. For Emilio and his family, that support meant more than school supplies: it was a profound relief during a difficult time. His father died when Emilio was only 7 years old, leaving his mother in charge of four children. Every notebook, every crayon, every pencil delivered by Aprender y Crecer represented one less worry.
"It was a big relief for my mom. I was able to continue studying, and the same happened with my siblings," who also received donations of school supplies and books from Aprender y Crecer. Emilio still remembers the excitement of receiving a blank notebook where he could draw, one of his favorite activities.
Emilio assures that the materials received made the difference in his school career. Not only did they allow him to attend classes with the necessary tools, but they also influenced his learning. "In high school, I realized that I could understand faster than other classmates."
To bring things truly full circle, during Emilio’s return to school as a volunteer he had the honor of delivering a school supply package to his own brother, Ángel, a first-grader at the school. Next year his youngest sibling will start attending the same school, and receiving the benefits of Aprender y Crecer.
