Pay it forward

Volunteers give time to educate others

There are people who at the end of the day do not go home, kick off their shoes, grab a drink, and sit in front of the television. They are people like Silvia, who has a doctorate in chemistry and works at the Illinois Institute of Technology researching allergens; Bryan or Joel, who are editors; Sonia, a mother of four small children; or Rosemarie, who has a doctorate in education and who is now retired. When their professional tasks end, they head out to a school for adults in a barrio of Hispanic immigrants in Chicago. They teach basic literacy, English, and GED classes for adults. No one pays them for it. In money, that is. In kindness, generosity, abundant life, humor, a sense of community, they get millions of rewards.

These people, and many more with them, work in an educational project headed by the Teresian Association, an international group of laity committed to the advancement of humanity through education and culture. The project emerged when several bilingual teachers, friends of the association, realized some of their students could not do their homework because their parents were unable to help them. “So for our mission to be really efficient, we must go beyond the classroom. We must help the adults,” they said.

They realized that many people have not had the opportunity to attend school, and now, as immigrants in this country, the better life they wanted to give their family must necessarily begin with their own education. The idea fit perfectly with the mission of the association, and it soon found space at St. Frances of Rome, a parish with a 90-percent Hispanic population. What commenced in 2004 as a literacy program began growing and now also offers GED and ESL (English as a Second Language) classes. From some 15 students in the first year, it has grown to more than 100. There are no paid teachers, and classes are completely free.

Silvia—like the others—could possibly have a more comfortable and secure lifestyle. She also could have a lot more money. “But God has insisted that I continue to serve his people. And when God insists on something… In this direct contact with people I feel most alive and it gives me reasons to continue going forward.”

Your turn

How do you imagine a happy life? What gives you energy and encourages you?