“My name is Martín Ramírez Ixbalán. I’m 9 years old and in first grade at the David LaMotte School.”
Martín was born in Panabaj in 2016, the oldest of three brothers. Life took a difficult turn when his father became ill. Despite every effort, the family could not afford the medical care he needed, and his father passed away. Martín’s mother, Isabel, was left to provide for her children while also managing the debts left behind. To survive, she had to sell the family’s land.
Now, Martín, his mother, and his two younger brothers (ages 5 and 3) live in a rented house in Tzanchaj, not far from the David LaMotte School. For Martín, this move has changed everything.
A First Chance at School
Although Martín is 9 years old, this is his very first year in school. “When we lived in Panabaj, I could not attend school because of the lack of opportunities,” he explains. But in 2025, when the family moved to Tzanchaj—just 100 meters from the school—he was finally able to begin his education.
“I feel very lucky to meet new teachers and to be in a safe and protected home,” Martín says. He has quickly discovered a love of learning, especially reading, math, and painting.
Life Beyond the Classroom
Like many children in rural Guatemala, Martín’s day doesn’t end when school lets out. In the afternoons, he helps his mother gather cane sticks from the woods, which they sell to neighbors to use as supports for bean plants and other crops. It’s hard work, but Martín also finds joy in it: “I really like living with nature because we live off it every day.”
A Brighter Path Forward
Since starting at the David LaMotte School eight months ago, Martín has found not only an education but also support that eases his family’s burden. He receives school supplies, meals, and encouragement from teachers who believe in him.
“I feel very happy here,” he says.
Martín’s story is a powerful reminder of why Senderos exists: to walk alongside children and families, opening doors to education and opportunity where there once were none. Because of supporters like you, children like Martín are not only learning for the first time—they are dreaming of brighter futures.