Las Voces del Silencio
Granja Lolita casa #10
Jocotenango, Guatemala
Tel: (+502) 4548-7043 or (+502) 7831-0609
Where the silent have a voice and a choice!
Meet Álvaro Ernesto De León Espinoza
Co-founded LAVOSI, along with his father (Álvaro de León Cruz) and Chris Tackett, because he wants to transform lives and make Guatemala a better place for all!
Álvaro studied in the states and is fluent in ASL (American Sign Language) and GSL (Guatemalan Sign Language). He is the author of the textbook on the "Guatemalan Sign Language".
At LAVOSI we offer pre-elementary and elementary classes (language, social studies, mathematics, history, etc.) Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p. m. We also offer vocational training in the basic and fine arts, Guatemalan crafts, manual arts, general homemaking, baking, culinary arts and basic and advanced computer training. All classes are taught using the Guatemalan Sign Language.
Parents are highly encouraged to attend the Parent Information and Training classes on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Parents are taught the Guatemalan Sign Language so that they can communicate more effectively with their hearing impaired child. Having a deaf child in Guatemala is often seen as a tragedy in this culture. LAVOSI has special training sessions were parents learn that having a deaf child is a blessing and not something to grieve or something of which to be ashamed.
