By buildOn Staff
Sandra de Jesús Gurdián in Santa Teresa, Nicaragua. Photo: buildOn
In communities around the world, access to education is not just about learning—it’s about equity, opportunity, and breaking cycles of poverty. For women and girls, the barriers to education can be even greater, with societal expectations, financial hardship, and outdated gender norms often standing in the way. But when women like Sandra de Jesús Gurdián gain access to education, they don’t just transform their own lives—they uplift entire communities. Sandra’s journey, from a young girl who refused to let poverty keep her out of school to a teacher empowering the next generation, is a powerful testament to the role education plays in achieving gender equity. With the support of buildOn, communities like Santa Teresa are ensuring that both girls and boys have the opportunity to learn, grow, and build a brighter future together.
In Santa Teresa, Nicaragua, Sandra de Jesús Gurdián stands in her beautiful new classroom, surrounded by students who are excited to learn. Her brand new school is just the latest chapter in an inspiring life filled with hard work and dedication in the face of adversity.
Her journey from a barefoot student to confident teacher reveals the transformative power of education.
A Child’s Determination to Learn
“Sometimes we could afford shoes, and sometimes we couldn’t,” Sandra recalls of her childhood. But her family’s financial struggles never dampened her spirit. “My mother would tell me to stay home if I didn’t have shoes, but I’d say, ‘It doesn’t matter, Mom, I’ll go anyway.’ To me, it was very important not to miss a day of class.”
Sandra (pictured standing in the old school) refused to let any obstacles get in the way of her dream of becoming a teacher. Photo: buildOn
This early dedication to education would shape her future calling as a teacher.
“My mother would tell me to stay home if I didn’t have shoes, but I’d say, ‘It doesn’t matter, Mom, I’ll go anyway.’ To me, it was very important not to miss a day of class.” —Sandra de Jesús Gurdián
A Community’s Dream
Growing up in Santa Teresa, Sandra witnessed a community’s struggle for education that mirrored her own. In 1995, when she was still a student, the local school was nothing more than sticks and plastic sheets. Classes were later moved to a church hallway as more students enrolled.
The community of Santa Teresa has worked for decades to build a proper school for their children. Photo: buildOn
After years of temporary solutions, the community’s leaders came together to build a dedicated learning space for their children, purchasing a plot of land and erecting a wooden structure to house the school. They were able to secure assistance from their local government, which allowed them to build a proper roof and hire government-paid teachers.
Becoming the Teacher She Dreamed of Being
In 2023, Sandra finally achieved her goal of becoming a teacher. “It’s a dream come true,” she shares. “As a member of this community, I feel blessed and proud to have been born here.”
But her early days of teaching came with their own challenges. The school, while a step up from what the community previously had, was still an aging wooden structure. There were no desks—only an old table, four worn-out chairs, and a homemade wooden picnic bench. Only nine kids could sit, while the others, including Sandra, had to stand. Another teacher lent her some desks, but as his own classroom filled, he eventually had to take them back.
Though Santa Teresa’s wooden school was an improvement compared to where Sandra attended school, it still left much to be desired. Photo: buildOn
Creating Solutions Through Community
Rather than accept these limitations, Sandra channeled the same determination that once drove her to walk barefoot to school. She organized parents to build custom desks for their children, ensuring every student had the proper equipment to learn.
“The impact has been great because the children feel happy sitting at their own desks. Each parent built each desk according to the size of their kid,” she says, smiling.
When her students lacked proper desks, Sandra worked with the community to build new ones for them. Photo: buildOn
A New Chapter for Santa Teresa
When buildOn partnered with Santa Teresa to construct a new school building, Sandra saw the community’s dream of a proper school finally realized. They banded together to build the brand new structure, which was completed last fall. Women worked alongside men, which Sandra describes as “marvelous.” She proudly notes, “The way it was organized, with men and women working hand in hand as buildOn requires, was absolutely genius.”
The people of Santa Teresa worked hard to construct Esmirna’s brand new buildOn school building. Photo: buildOn
Today, over 160 children benefit from the improved conditions at Esmirna School. For Sandra, this transformation means future generations won’t have to face the same challenges she did as a student. “We don’t even think we live in the same place as before, with a school so beautiful and nice,” she beams. “It’s super cool!”
The Journey Continues
Sandra’s story embodies the cycle of positive change that education creates. From a determined barefoot student to an inspiring teacher, she now helps shape the future of her community’s children.
Sandra, and her students, are very grateful to buildOn’s supporters for helping to make their dream of a new school a reality. Photo: buildOn
“I thank you with all my heart for the way you’ve looked at us and supported us in a very special way,” she says to buildOn supporters. “Our enrollment grows every day.”