Thalia Anahi Lopez Minera

Christa, Janeece, and Leslie first met Thalia in 2019, during a visit to Guatemala with the Flagstaff Arts and Leadership Academy. Thalia is deaf, and one of the FALA students knew some sign language, so they spent a lot of time making art together.

Thalia has been learning sign language and now is learning to read lips. Her school situation is challenging, however, since she has to travel 4 hours round trip each day with her mother to be able to study at the school for deaf students. Here is the letter of recommendation from our contacts at Colectivo Vida Digna.

Dear fellow ONE board of directors,

I hereby greet you, sending you big hugs in gratitude for your dedication to the education of girls around the world. Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Gloribel Salanic, I began my collaboration with the Asociación Colectivo Vida Digna in 2022 in the area of education, providing counseling and educational accompaniment to the girls and boys with scholarships. The surprise of my job was meeting Thalia Lopez Minera, a young 18-year-old Maya Mam, who has been deaf since she was born and lives in the community of Rancho Alegre Cajola, in Quetzaltenango in western Guatemala. It gives me so much satisfaction to recommend her for a ONE scholarship because she is a young woman who works hard to achieve what she sets out to do.

Thalia is currently studying at the Benemerito Committee for the Blind and Deaf of Guatemala, Educational Center for Deaf Children, Western Region “Ora. H.C. Elisa Molina de Stahl”. From the beginning Thalia and the dedication of both parents, Guadalupe and Yaneth, amazed me since they watch over the education of her daughter with great interest and affection. The serious language tool in conjunction with learning to lip read has been helping Thalia to communicate and develop. She highlighted that during her childhood she has gone through very difficult times, however her own initiative has been her tool to overcome these situations. One of the barriers that limited her from continuing to study is the distance between the school and her community, all of which implied that Thalia and her mother had to get up at four in the morning to travel, since the journey takes two hours to travel to get to school.

It has been very difficult for the family because of the economic expense of public transportation and her mother’s time because she stays waiting for her during classes. In addition, the insecurity that exists within the country does not allow her to travel alone to take her classes. This year we managed to find a family in Quetzaltenango, where Thalia has been able to stay since the beginning of classes in January. We hope with a scholarship from ONE she can continue to live close to the school.

Thalia’s letter to us for her application was very heartfelt and tells us a lot about this young woman.

Quetzaltenango, 4 April, 2023

Good day, My name is Thalia Lopez Minera. I am from Cajola and I am 18 years old.

When I was four years old I went to the school in Quetzaltenango for deaf children. I felt out of place and I cried a lot. They spoke to me in sign language and I didn’t understand because I was young, but later I learned a little because I had a very nice teacher.

After a year, my parents took me out of the school because they couldn’t pay and they sent me to the school in my community.

I felt happy in my community but only with my friends because we played and all, but to write I just copied what was on the blackboard because I didn’t understand. My teacher in the community school didn’t know sign language, just like me. I just made them up. Some kids rejected me and others liked me. I was there until fifth grade, until I found the opportunity through Vida Digna to study at Elisa Molina School, where I am now. I started again in third grade but I was really happy.

In Eliza Molina I am now in second basic. I like it a lot and I have four friends. They also give workshops at the school and this year I am learning to embroider with a machine. I like it a lot. I have also always loved cake making. Perhaps next year I will learn more.

Now I am learning dance. We are rehearsing a lot and it’s possible that we will compete in the capital city and perhaps also in Panama.

Since February I have lived in Xela so I can be closer to the school. I feel good at the guest house where I stay. I want to continue studying and I hope you can help me with a scholarship. I am going to try hard in all my classes, and I also have the help of my parents and of Vida Digna.

Thalia

We are delighted to provide more than half of Thalia’s scholarship for her to be able to study and not have to travel so far. Colectivo Vida Digna will pay for a portion of her scholarship, we will pay the rest. Thalia is a very special and dedicated young woman, and we’re very happy to have her as part of our family!

June 2025

Thalia is settling into her new school, although it hasn’t been easy. As you will see from her letter to us, at first it was a challenge because her translators hadn’t arrived to help her in school. Once they did, her classes and the information she was learning got a lot better, but it sounds like many of the other students are pretty cruel to her, making fun of her sign language and her deafness. We want to talk to our contacts at Vida Digna and find out what we might be able to do to help. Is there a way to help the other students understand what Thalia deals with every day? We think there is, but we have to figure out how.

Despite the challenges, Thalia is persevering and accomplishing a lot. She’s an amazing and powerful young woman, and we can’t wait until everyone sees her talents and her heart.

Thalía Anahí López Minera

When I arrived at school in January, I felt very nervous. I didn’t know anyone, nor did I have an interpreter to help me communicate. That feeling of being alone was very strong. Some people approached me to talk, but when they realized I was deaf, many walked away. Fortunately, a teacher at school who knows sign language supported me during the first few days by interpreting for me. Thanks to her, I began to learn many things.

Over time, I took classes that were truly challenging, like programming and math, although there were also others that I found very interesting, like science. I clearly remember the day my interpreters, Eunice and Karla, finally arrived. From that moment on, everything changed: I was able to communicate much better. Also, a girl named Migdalia started learning sign language, which made me feel more supported.

Still, it hasn’t all been easy. In some courses, like math, teachers explain very quickly and don’t always stop to check if I’m really understanding. On several occasions, we’ve had to ask them to repeat the explanation just for me. Sometimes they do, and it helps me tremendously to understand better, both in math and in computer science and programming, where the pace of the class is often too fast.

There are other courses that I find especially difficult, like Communication and Language or English, since they rely heavily on oral practice, and as a deaf person, those skills are not part of my daily experience.

One of the most painful experiences I had was in a math class. Karla was interpreting for me when I noticed a young man named Gabriel, along with a young woman named Emily, making fun of me and my sign language. It was a very difficult moment; I felt completely discriminated against and couldn’t stop crying. I left the class and took refuge in the bathroom. Karla came to find me and comforted me. Then she spoke with teacher Gaby, who in turn spoke with Gabriel. He apologized, but I’ve had to learn a lot of patience, especially because he’s the principal’s son and tends to be rude to many people, not just me.

This whole time has been a process of adaptation: to the schedule, to my classmates, to the courses. The school facilities are nice, but despite that, I often feel excluded and discriminated against. However, I’ve also had moments I’ve enjoyed. In April, for example, we took a trip to Xetulul. I was very excited because I went with Migdalia, although that day we couldn’t communicate well because the interpreter was Gaby, and she was only present at very specific times, such as when we asked for food. Still, it was a fun experience, even though the heat was quite intense.

Last week, another unpleasant incident occurred. During a litter-picking activity, a group of classmates threw feces at me. I’ve noticed that some kids in that group often do things like that. I was once hit with a ball, and although they always apologize, they continue to mock me and repeat this type of behavior.

I feel like they don’t take what they do seriously, and the teachers, despite witnessing their actions, don’t take action to prevent them from happening again.

Despite everything, I’ve also had positive experiences. One of my favorite classes was computer science, where we learned about computer repair and maintenance. At first, I was very worried because I didn’t understand anything, but little by little, with help, I began to understand. Together with Migdalia, we managed to disassemble a CPU, clean it, learn the function of each of its parts, and how to put it back together. I was anxious because I didn’t want to ruin anything, but the teacher told me not to worry, that nothing was going to break. That helped me feel calmer and more confident.

On the other hand, there were times when I felt very frustrated, like when they had us solve an equation in programming and I couldn’t understand anything. However, I like Wednesdays because the classes are more practical. They have us build different structures and program with Lego-like pieces. Sometimes Sofía helps me, although she doesn’t usually attend school much, and it’s uncomfortable for me because the rest of my classmates are men, and I don’t usually interact with them that much.

I’ve learned how to use a calculator and other programs, but I often feel like things are very difficult. Solving all the school challenges isn’t easy for me, but I keep working hard every day.

I’m going to tell you about an activity: a visit to the body museum. They explained in depth about bodies and how they work. I wish there were more spaces like these activities.

THANK YOU for everything! Greetings to Christa and the board, the appreciation is great. I send you a big hug!

January 2025

Thalia has begun her first of two years of upper secondary school, the equivalent of 10th grade for us. Since there are no upper secondary schools for the deaf near her, she is going to a “regular” school. But Anna and Gloribel, our contacts at Vida Digna, picked a Montessori type school for her, instead of a standard public school. It’s more expensive, but gives a much more personal experience. In addition, Thalia needs an interpreter to be with her three days a week, to help her learn and perfect her sign language. We can’t even imagine how challenging this must be, but Anna and Gloribel tell us that she is hanging in there, and learning how to deal with the differences in being in a hearing school. The school is about a 75 minute bus ride from her house, so at least she can live at home, which is important.

In this phase of a student’s education in Guatemala, students must choose their career path, and Thalia has chosen computer studies. Learning these skills can help her get a job in many places: offices, banks, stores and other businesses. So we think she’s made a really sensible decision; we just hope she likes her studies!

Thalia’s parents are putting a huge effort into their daughter’s education. They have 4 other children, yet they have committed to spending almost $1000 to pay for Thalia’s monthly school fees, and some of her other costs. Her father walks her to the bus every morning and home every afternoon. We are grateful for their help; it says a lot about how much they value their daughter and her future.

August 2024

Thalia will be graduating from 9th grade at the School for the Deaf in December! She finished her semester with an 81% average in school; she is really good at language and Mayan culture. We’ve translated her mid-year letter to us here.

Quetzaltenango

Monday 29 July 2024

Hello, my name is Thalia Lopez Minera. It’s a pleasure to greet you all. I am studying in Third Basic. I want to tell you how it has gone for me in the school.

OK, the first day of class I was very happy and also sad because I stay in Xela pretty far from my family. But later I felt better. In school we do a lot of homework and go out to learn, play and go to the library, and to the museum with my friends and teacher. I also am participating in Stahl’s Dances. It’s a little tiring but I also like to participate. On the 8th of August we are going to dance in Guatemala City.

I am happy but i am also thinking about my course of study next year. I am afraid because it’s going to be very different and I am going to need a lot of help. I hope you understand me. I may need a teacher who helps me after class because I feel that the homework will be more difficult.

Thalia doesn’t have to worry. If we need to we will pay a tutor to help her with her next year of school! We know it will be different, especially since she will be going to a regular school, not one for the deaf. But we’ll help, and she’s proven she’s up to the challenge!

December 2023

Thalia passed her year and from her letter to us, it sounds like it was a really good one, both emotionally and academically. Her family is learning how to communicate with her and including her in more activities; she’s making new friends, and participating in some really fun activities. We’re excited for her success and can’t wait to see how next year goes. Here is a translation of her letter to us at the end of the year.

Cajola, 24 of November, 2023

This is Thalia, I am sending you big hugs. I am grateful for the help that I received during this year, and I hope to see you one day.

1. What was the most difficult thing about this year?

Returning to school in order to take in-person classes, because it is two hours on the road, from very early in the morning from my house without being accompanied by my mother because she’s watching my brothers to make sure they go to school, and also the necessities of the house. Traveling alone makes me embarrassed because I can’t talk. I feel like people there are making fun of me.

2. What was the best thing?

I found a place to stay after finishing my classes; I’m less tired; the acceptance of the family towards me; helping with food preparation and cleaning my room; their confidence in chatting with me. I love it because they are learning my language. I feel like I have another family; this is a new memory from this year.

3. What do you feel proudest of having done this year?

The opportunity that they gave me to participate in a dance group. During rehearsal days I was concentrating on learning the steps. They gave us the chance to travel to Panama and we came in third place. But I didn’t forget the rest of my classes, and I passed the year, which makes me happy.

4. Tell us what makes you happy for the coming school year.

To learn new things from my teachers, classmates and friends. To participate in activities that the school plans. To apply myself to my studies from the first day of class and improve my grades. To finish primary school. I’m excited for my graduation and to work even harder for that day to arrive.

5. Who is your best friend?

Yanila is my best friend in school. She has a very calm character. Nothing makes her mad. She asks me to please explain again the topic we cover in class. We share our happiness and play together at recess. My second best friend is Evelyn. We participate together in dance and she helps me with the steps because she is really good at sign language. She is the intermediate who speaks it, who supports a new teacher and the parents in the educational processes of the students.

6. What would you like to do in the future with people close to you?

My education is helping me understand the necessities of the people around me. I want to help them in different ways so that they will feel good. I want to be a painter because in that way I can express what I am feeling. Investing my time in doing it, exposing it to other people, and motivating young people that yes, we have talents, it is only about discovering them and feeling proud of our accomplishments and successes.

Thalia Anahi Lopez Minera

October 2023

Thalia has been doing well in school, her semester report card was an 82%, which is really good. She’s learning to read lips as well as her sign language, and we hear this is doing wonders for her confidence. For the year so far in school she has received either “good” or “excellent” ratings in terms of her accomplishing the tasks set out for her by her teachers (respecting the belongings of her classmates, completing homework, collaborating with her classmates, etc.). We’re really proud of her efforts!

We sent her some questions to answer for her first letter at the semester. She’s never had to do anything like this before so her answers were a bit on the slim side, but we’ll work with our contacts at Vida Digna to make sure she understands that we’d like her to be able to explain things to us just a little bit more!

1. What have you learned during the last six months of your school year?

I have learned about physics, and mathematics, and all my materials. I have also learned how to dance and I have learned many things

2. What have you learned from the topics taught by your teacher during this time?

I have learned respect and to care for the environment.

3. How do you feel about your education after having finished the first half of the school year?

A little tired, frustrated. But I want to continue to reach my goal.

4. What are you hoping to learn for the second half of the school year?

I want to learn more therapy. More vocabulary and numbers.

We’re not sure what she means by therapy, so next time we talk to her, we’ll ask what that means!

In September, Thalia was also able to participate in a dance workshop in Panama for dancers from all over Central America who have auditory disabilities. Our contact Anna said she had a really good time and she also sent us a link to the event announcement on Facebook. It’s pretty cute. You don’t have to have a Facebook account or log in to see it.