Guatemala  Uses  Bible Stories to Help Pupils Resist Gang Culture

July 14, 2024125 views0

Guatemala  Uses  Bible Stories to Help Pupils Resist Gang Culture

2024-07-14T09:34:53+01:00

By Church News

Some public schools in Guatemala have opted to use Bible stories to help pupils read better and resist gang culture.Mixco school administrators recently implemented the “Open the Book” programme, a curriculum developed by the UK Bible Society.This initiative aims to foster literacy and moral grounding among students by dramatising biblical stories.Cesar Sanchez, the Open the Book project manager, began as a volunteer.He told the Religion News Service, “I met them through the work they do with vulnerable children and communities, and that’s what attracted me to the work they do,” he said. “I’ve seen it make a difference.”Many children in the Guatemala City metropolitan area leave school at the age of 14; in rural areas, it can be as young as eight. For those who do attend, there is often a shortage of teaching materials, including textbooks and modern reading devices. In Mixco, 650 pupils share just twelve computers.The Bible Society aims to bring Bible-based educational resources to schools across Guatemala, to improve the education and prospects of the pupils.Christian actors visited a school in Tierra Nueva to tell Bible stories. They acted out stories like “Free at Last,” which is based on the exodus story of the Israelites fleeing Egypt. After the stories, they talked about what they learned and said a prayer together.Also Read: ‘Faith without works is dead’ – President Joe Biden