A project by the Bible Society of Guatemala (BSG) to teach reading and writing to kids in rural Guatemala has now begun.

Many of Guatemala’s rural communities are impoverished and there is limited access to educational resources. As of 2019, there were 2.3 million people in Guatemala over the age of 15 who did not know how to read or write; most of them live in rural areas. While the children want to learn, a lack of resources makes it impossible. BSG has started a project to combat this by creating specialised reading material, adapted from the Bible and in local languages, as well as training teachers to use the resources to teach reading and writing.

Preparations underway

From January through March 2025, preparations have been made for the beginning of classes, including gathering promoters from three different language groups — the Q’eqchí’, K’iche’ of Totonicapán and Western Kaqchikel languages.

Mario, the BSG Coordinator of Translations and Church Services, says he always felt that formal literacy project would be an impossible challenge, as they have always focused on Bible promotion and did not have age-appropriate learning materials for schoolchildren. However, like a puzzle, the pieces began to come together. “From the moment we began conversations with the SIL Consultants, things gradually started to become clearer, until the time came to launch the first workshop.”

The Promoters, Project Managers and a Translation Coordinator went through a two-week workshop facilitated by SIL Consultants where they created the pre-reading books, illustration books for the reading primer, and fully planned around 50% of the lessons for the project.

A K’iche’ Promoter from Totonicapán, Rosa*, said: “I thought the workshop was great. We were really engaged during the two weeks.” She particularly highlighted the book-making activity, saying: “At first, I didn’t really understand what we had to do, but little by little, my doubts were cleared.”

Juana*, a Q’eqchi’ Promoter, said she hopes to continue to enrich her language with beautiful literature and share it with children, and “above all, to bring God’s word to more people.”

“It was a wonderful experience,” she added.

“At first, I didn’t think I could do it, but with God’s help, the consultants, and the staff from the Bible Society of Guatemala, I was able to learn more about my language.”

Mario said that although no one knew what to expect when the workshops first started, their eyes began to open over the course of the two weeks. “Amid confusion and uncertainty, like a puzzle, the pieces began to come together until we understood how to create the pre-reading books and literacy primers,” he said, adding that each of them “quickly developed an incredible ability to understand and design each lesson.”

“What once seemed impossible — finding stories in their own language — has now led them to become authors and creators of stories, tales, tongue twisters, rhymes, riddles, and more. These are essential elements for the lessons that must be included in the books.”

The future

The project aims to teach over 13,000 children to read and write throughout its lifetime and equip 366 teachers to be able to effectively teach literacy skills. By using biblically based reading materials, BSG aims to foster the participants’ spiritual growth. We are truly excited about the progress made in creating these materials, yet we are also nervous because there is still so much to learn,” Mario said. “We ask for your prayers so that we may continue to work in harmony, with determination, and above all, with love — always thinking about the communities who will soon be able to read in their own language and, eventually, read the word of God as well.”

Please continue to pray:

For wisdom and guidance: For God to grant wisdom and direction to everyone involved in the project, from leaders to facilitators, so that they can plan and execute the activities effectively.

For community commitment: So that the communities commit to the project and that both children and their families actively participate in literacy activities, recognising the importance of education in their personal and spiritual development.

For the provision of resources: Both material and financial, to ensure that the project can be carried out without setbacks and that the adapted biblical materials are accessible to all participants.

For the impact of the project: So that the teaching is not only about reading and writing skills, but also impacts the spiritual and emotional lives of the participants, helping them grow in their faith and strengthen the use of their language through the word of God, the Bible.

*Names have been changed to protect privacy.

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