Lucia Cuno

Lucía Cuno grew up in the tiny community of Mangopata, where undulating hills melt into tropical forest. The community, recently settled, didn't have good roads or a health post, or even a high school. When Lucía finished 6th grade, her father said, "We can't afford to send Lucía to high school -- it is too far away, and she will just end up a housewife anyway." But Lucía had her mind set, and with the support of her mother, she moved to Guanay, and paid her way through school making rellenos, fried plantain dumplings filled with meat and vegetables.

When she finished high school, she wanted to continue her studies, but she had no money. Father Remigio, the parish priest in Guanay, talked to Sister Damon and arranged a scholarship for her at the College through the Christian Foundation for Children and the Aging, a U.S.-based foundation that helps the most vulnerable in society.

Lucía started in the pre-university program in 2002, and in 2003 entered into the College's Primary Education program. For her graduation project, she decided to return to Guanay and work with 3rd graders and reading ability. She discovered that most students were not reading at grade level, and helped design a program for the school to support reading outside of classroom, one of the most effective ways of improving reading skills.


Photo: Lucía signs bound copies of her work after her defense.

She defended this project last week, and became the seventh graduate of the Education program. And she has not stopped there: while preparing her research project, she has earned a diplomado (post graduate) degree in Higher Education, and is enrolled in the College's diplomado course in Educational Research. She currently supports us in the College's main office.

When asked what she liked most about her time at the College, she replied, "Living and working together with my classmates was a huge learning opportunity for me. I really grew as a person, learning to share of myself and grow in the mutual support that we nourished."

Lucía plans to earn a Master's degree in Special Education to work with the young people of Bolivia who are often marginalized. We are proud to call her one of our own.


Photo: Lucia stands with her parents, her newly defended graduation document in hand.