Traveling to help Guatemala’s children a ‘meaningful and beautiful experience’

By Ryan Clark
CHS Communications Director

Even in a country 2,600 miles away, Marilyn Wells learned there is one universal language.

Play. All children know how to play.

As a junior Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) major form Mount Orab, Ohio, Wells was one of four undergraduate students from her major who participated in an interdisciplinary education abroad program earlier this year in Guatemala.

“Play is the universal language," she said. "Through it — even with my limited Spanish — I formed genuine, unforgettable connections with the students."

The trip allowed the CSD students to work with children at a preschool and children’s home in Guatemala City, conducting developmental assessments and providing training to local caregivers and teachers.

The education abroad program included students from a variety of disciplines, including CSD, Special Education, Early Education, Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education, and Spanish. The group worked closely with children at Hope 4 Tomorrow Preschool, engaging in one-on-one interactions with both children and their caregivers.

Allison Hatcher, PhD, CCC-SLP, assistant professor in CSD, explained that the students' work was crucial in identifying developmental strengths and needs.

“They conducted comprehensive assessments on children with and without disabilities to determine their developmental strengths and needs,” Hatcher said. “Students also identified goals and designed learning activities based on assessment data, then worked with caregivers and teachers to offer suggestions for improving developmental support in preschool and home environments.”

In addition to the students from the College of Health Sciences, the group was led by faculty members Dr. Jennifer Grisham-Brown and Dr. Amy Spriggs from the College of Education. The program’s interdisciplinary approach allowed for a broader impact on the children’s development, with faculty and students from multiple disciplines working together to support the educational and developmental needs of the children.

The trip is part of an ongoing effort to expand educational opportunities abroad for CHS students, offering them hands-on experience while making a positive impact in communities around the world.

For Wells, the experience was both professionally and personally transformative.

“Guatemala was a truly meaningful and beautiful experience,” she said. “At Hope 4 Tomorrow Preschool, we had the opportunity to work closely with the students — conducting developmental assessments and leading parent-teacher conferences. What stayed with me most were the children.

“I will always carry those friendships and the impact of this experience in my personal and professional future.”