Manuel is 24 and the youngest of eight siblings. He lives in Pasac, Sololá with his wife Gregoria and daughter Dulce Aurora. Manuel is currently working as a primary school teacher a two-and-a-half-hour walk from his home. His income goes to raising his family and helping his elderly parents who work in subsistence farming. Manuel is studying at Galileo University, earning a B.A. in School Administration. Manuel would like to be a bilingual administrator of the high school in his region. His parents have never received any schooling and Manuel is one of only two siblings that have studied past elementary school.