Terra Nueva, a tough neighbourhood in Guatemala City, faces challenges which include poverty and crime that stem from the nation's troubled history.

To address the lack of educational resources and combat gang culture, schools have adopted initiatives like 'Open the Book', a programme by the Bible Society UK.

In Mixco, where resources are scarce, 650 students share just a dozen computers.

The introduction of 'Open the Book' has been met with enthusiasm, with students actively participating in dramatised Bible stories using singing and dancing as learning tools.

One 11 year-old student, Justin, expressed appreciation for how Bible stories contribute to his education. "Bible stories help me to be smarter and to learn about God" he said.

Initial reluctance

Despite initial reluctance, teachers like Evelyn Divas, head teacher at El Mezquital Public School, have seen the positive impact of incorporating Bible study into the curriculum.

Divas was the only practising Christian teacher in the school.

"I was worried they'd all think I was there just to impose my beliefs on them" she said. "At first, everyone was hesitant of the project and it's hard for people to warm up to it."

Divas says people have accepted it, and the children enjoy it.

Beyond educational benefits, the programme also serves as a support system for students grappling with violence.

Alison Estefinea Gutierrez, 11, shared how the lessons helped her cope with the loss of family members to gang violence. "Reading the Bible helped me forgive, and I've become less aggressive" Alison said.

Glimmer of hope

In a country plagued by crime and socio-economic challenges, Bible study initiatives like 'Open the Book' offer a glimmer of hope.

However, systemic issues persist, with poverty and corruption exacerbating the cycle of violence.

Newly elected President Bernardo Arévalo has pledged to prioritise education to uplift disadvantaged communities.

"For a long time, we have not invested in the same way to bring development to all communities in the country. The future of the children is at stake in the schools, and the future of the country is at stake in the children's education" Arévalo stated.

However, addressing deep-rooted issues such as corruption and gang activity remains a formidable challenge.

Despite these obstacles, educators like Divas remain hopeful that programmes promoting positive values can make a lasting impact, nurturing a generation resilient to the lure of gang culture.

"I see this project as planting a seed … inviting them to live a life that is good. They may not even understand it right now, but I know they will someday."

Sources

Religion News

Bishop Mark Seitz of El Paso, Texas, told the House Judiciary Committee on June 25 that violence in their homelands is the root cause of so many children immigrating illegally.

Bishop Seitz said authorities must let religious groups and individuals minister to these children once they have arrived at the border patrol stations and shelters.

He said various requests to do so have been denied.

The bishop also called for efforts by Congress to address the root causes of such migrations.

He said simply deporting the minors "is akin to sending these children back into a burning building they just fled".

The United States Department of Homeland Security has reported that 52,000 illegal child migrants that have been apprehended at the border this fiscal year, up from 15,700 last year.

Three quarters of them are from Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala.

Bishop Seitz said gangs in these three countries are increasingly targeting children, attempting to recruit them into their networks and threatening violence against the children and their families if they refuse.

He said migration should be "orderly, safe, controlled and consistent with the common good".

Bishop Seitz lamented the state of overcrowded detention facilities for the children, and emphasised the importance of due process and legal representation for migrant children.

In early June, leaked photos were published showing dozens of children crammed into bare rooms.

President Barack Obama spoke of an "urgent humanitarian situation".

There are around 5000 immigration cases pending for every qualified judge, so dealing with individual children's cases in the judicial system could take years.

Republican lawmakers and others believe the surge in child migration has come about because of the Obama administration's lax enforcement of immigration laws.

But Bishop Seitz said the relatively stagnant numbers of migrants from other Central American countries shows violence, not policy, is the primary factor in the surge.

Rumours have spread like wildfire in some Central American nations that US laws have been relaxed.

The Obama administration blames unscrupulous people-smugglers trying to drum up business for starting the rumours.

The White House has promised more help to Central American countries and to appoint more immigration judges.

Sources

• Catholic News Service
• The Economist
• Catholic News Agency
• Image: The Telegraph