SENAHU, Guatemala — Three hundred school kits, provided by the Church Humanitarian Center, were delivered to school children in the remote region of Senahu, Alta Verapaz, in Guatemala.

Photo courtesy David and Pat Hall

School children in the remote region of Senahu, Alta Verapaz, in Guatemala, display supplies donated by Church humanitarian efforts. The 300 school kits mean 300 children will be able to attend school in the coming year.

In a place where the indigenous dialect, Q'eqchi, is still the main language (with a few speaking some Spanish), the country's requirement that students provide their own materials when attending any school causes great hardship. Without government sponsorship to pay for supplies, many families in Senahu do not have the means to help their children attend school, even here in the Polochic Valley where the total number of teachers can be counted on one hand.

Sister Pat Hall, serving with her husband, Elder David Hall, as area welfare specialists, learned of the need and met with Heriberto Choc, branch president and a community leader in the Polochic Valley, to arrange for the transportation of 50 boxes of supplies. "The community picked up the kits in a truck on their weekly trip to Guatemala City," she said.

The community insisted that Elder and Sister Hall, as well as President Thomas Coleman of the Guatemala Guatemala City North Mission, and his wife, Sister Carolyn H. Coleman, be present during the distribution of the kits at the beginning of the school year on Jan. 15.

"We reached the school after a two-hour drive on a rutted, rocky dirt road," said Sister Hall. After the drive "we donned our black rubber boots and went on foot another 30 minutes on a muddy trail to the school site where we were greeted with cheers and applause by the waiting students, their parents and the four teachers."

After an opening ceremony of a few words by the community leaders, the teachers, Elder Hall and President Coleman, a teacher called out the names of children attending the school this year; one by one they stepped forward to receive their new supplies.

Photo courtesy David and Pat Hall

Children, parents and teachers in Guatemalan village pose for picture after receiving supplies from the Church that will help their school.

Sister Hall explained that in a country where school supplies are not only a prerequisite, but also expensive, 300 school kits translates into 300 students able to attend the coming school year.

On their way out, one of the teachers commented to the group, "By receiving these kits, these children will inspire and motivate other children to want to attend school. Only through education will they be able to make a better life for themselves and their community." — Christopher Morales