When Sebastián Quino was a boy, his dreams were simple: go to school, learn, and one day become a teacher. But those dreams were not easy to keep.
Born into a large family in rural Guatemala, Sebastián was the third of nine children. From the age of five, his days began before dawn—hauling water, tending cows, collecting grass, and helping his father in the fields. Only after fulfilling these responsibilities was he allowed to walk long distances to school. Even then, the classroom was a single-crowded space with dirt floors and one teacher for sixty students. Still, Sebastián was happy. He loved to learn.
But that joy was short-lived. When he was just 14, Sebastián’s father was killed during Guatemala’s civil conflict. Soon after, his mother died of illness. Orphaned and afraid, Sebastián had no choice but to leave school and become a caretaker for his siblings. He left his home and native language (K’iche’) behind and traveled to the coast to work in the sugarcane fields. The work was brutal: twelve-hour days in scorching heat, sleeping on floors, often without enough food. He earned two to three quetzales a day—less than 50 cents.
Through every hardship, Sebastián held on to one promise:
“When I have children, they will study. All of them. Boys and girls.”
Today, Sebastián is 55. He never became a classroom teacher, but he is now President of his village’s COCODE (community council) and a blacksmith by trade. More importantly, he is a father of eight and a grandfather of eight—and thanks to Sebastián's determination, all of them had the opportunity to go to school. Some are now parents themselves, continuing his legacy of valuing education.
That legacy has been shaped—and supported—by School the World. With Sebastián’s leadership, his community partnered with STW to build new classrooms and their first-ever playground. But the partnership didn’t stop there. Through STW’s parent training programs, families like Sebastián’s have gained tools to support their children’s learning at home. They’ve received books, access to local tutors, and opportunities to participate in the change they want to see.
“When I see these beautiful, spacious classrooms with electricity and safe floors, I think: this is a luxury I never had,” Sebastián says. “But if my children enjoy it, then I enjoy it too. I didn’t have love or education growing up, but my community will.”
His story is not the only one. Félix Quixtán, a father of ten, grew up with no school nearby and left his studies at seven. Today, he proudly supports the education of all his children—including his five daughters. With STW’s support, his community now has safe classrooms, scholarships, and family engagement programs that help parents like Félix guide their children toward a brighter future.
