At 94, Catalina Mendoza did something she had never experienced: walking into class for the first time. No memory of desks, notebooks or teachers before today. Only the desire, which remained silent for decades, to learn to read and write. In El Salvador, in the Centro Escolar El Congo, his story transformed a simple delivery of school materials into a symbolic moment. Catalina showed up with excitement, receiving her tablet, notebooks and teaching kit like any other student.
In the courtroom with his 71 year old daughter
What makes everything even more surprising is the presence of his daughter Teresa Tobar, 71, who studies at the same institute. Mother and daughter now share lessons, notebooks and dreams, sitting a few meters apart. Catalina is in first grade, while Teresa is enrolled in eighth grade. A parallel path that arises from a simple motivation: accompanying each other and demonstrating that the desire to learn never runs out. The family bond thus becomes a mutual push.
Tablets and materials for all ages
Catalina’s enrollment was possible thanks to an inclusive educational program promoted by the Salvadoran Ministry of Education, which for the first time extended the benefits to adults enrolled in the flexible modality. In addition to books and notebooks, participants receive technological devices, including tablets, to facilitate learning. The project involves around 1.2 million students, with different packages based on school level. The objective is to reduce inequalities and allow even those who have never attended school to begin a complete educational path.
A dream that has been on hold all my life
For Catalina, sitting among the benches means recovering an opportunity she never had. He had never seen a school from the inside, or held a pencil in his hands. Now, however, she faces the alphabet with curiosity and determination, accompanied by her daughter who encourages her step by step. The two women participate in the lessons together with the other students, sharing exercises and activities, while teachers and classmates observe this intergenerational class with amazement.
School as a new departure
The story of Catalina and Teresa tells of a second chance that comes when you least expect it. It is not just a return to the classroom, but a concrete demonstration that learning has no age. At 94, the gesture of opening a notebook takes on the value of an achievement. And as mother and daughter walk down the same school corridor, their presence becomes a powerful message: it’s never too late to start over.
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