Virgilio is a man who works in a handful of positions across the department of Solola, the home of Lake Atitlan. Across his professional profile his commitment to psychology, education, childhood development, and accompanying youth as they seek to make their dreams a reality is made very clear. From his professorship at a local university, his collaboration with MAIA, with the Centro Educativo Comunitario and with CAMEL.
Virgilio is a leader that leads by the vision of the young people he serves.
He is inspired to make change, transformation and opportunity happen through education, and the spiritual, physical, and emotional well-being of the next generation.
The work is not always easy, Virgilio says he struggles with the machista society in which he lives. To unlearn and learn, to shift paradigms and break schemas — the culture resists, and limits the access of education to the children who need it. Virgilio says that having a network that has his back and accompanies him through these challenges is what allows him to overcome the difficulties he faces. Just knowing that there are other people out here doing the work also encourages him.
From his time at ALG he is most appreciative for learning to believe in himself as a leader, his potential and to believe in the dreams that he has. Virgilio also mentions the invaluable tools he acquired in the Certificate Leadership program, tools that have accompanied him throughout his journey. He thanks the lessons he learned from the people he studied with, as well, their life experiences taught him that no matter what you difficulty you pass through — there is never a reason to give up your dreams.
