Melissa Miranda

Project: La Patojada – A Project to Support Youth Development for Youth Not Enrolled in School

Quote: “I always wanted to do something for people, more than just helping them, but also building something together”

Favorite Book: Cuerpos, territorios y Feminismos 

Favorite Activity: Going out walking and seeing the volcano

About: Melissa, a certified school teacher, worked at Los Patojos School for six years managing public relations and coordinating the Los Patojos Community Health Clinic before working for a girls’ and women’s empowerment project. Los Patojos is an innovative school serving a neighborhood struggling with poverty and gang activity by embracing art, sports, and critical thinking as a means to change the lives of its students. While working at Los Patojos, Melissa was actively involved in developing and leading creative extracurricular activities to achieve social transformation and provide safe spaces for youth. 

Melissa recognizes the privileges that she had as a child, including consistent meals and the ability to safely travel to and from school. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing one’s own privilege, acknowledging the realities of inequality, and understanding that basic rights are not accessible to everyone. During her time at Los Patojos, Melissa saw how difficult it was for students to regularly attend school when struggling with access to quality health care and nutrition, and family poverty. To address this concern, Melissa joined ConnectED to provide students with access to safe spaces and recreation.

“I live in Jocotenango and I am committed to the children and youth of my community. I firmly believe that societies should implement new forms of education, with dignity and love. We are working hard to ensure that Guatemalan youth have access to safe spaces. I have a very clear social vision of the problems that affect my community and that is where my struggle and commitment to my community takes force.”

Problem: Living in a high-crime area, students need activities and structures to keep them safe and to give them something to do outside of school. The pandemic only worsened the situation, as children were unable to physically attend school.

Solution: Melissa’s project (co-run with Ester Salazar)  provides students with access to safe spaces and recreation to develop targeted 21st-century skills and motivation to continue their academic studies. Through recreational art, including activities such as circus tricks and street art, students have the opportunity to express themselves and discover new skills and talents. Melissa’s goal is to motivate students and create social transformation within the community.