Brantford woman inspired by Venezuelan students' determination after earthquake

Students at Unidad Educativa Colegio Privado María Sixta take part in class in Venezuela. The privately operated school provides children with access to daily education, including English and computer classes, opportunities that are unavailable to many students in the country.

Casandra Turnbull

Managing Editor

For most children, an unexpected power outage or natural disaster would be enough reason to skip class. Not for nine-year-old Sofia.

Just hours after a powerful earthquake shook parts of Venezuela, the young student logged onto WhatsApp from her darkened home, wrapped in a blanket and using only a flashlight so she could continue her weekly English lesson with her teacher in Canada.

For Brantford resident Carol Manikus, it was a moment she will never forget.

"I asked if she wanted to cancel our lesson. Without hesitation she answered, 'No, Teacher. Please continue,'" Manikus recalled. "As our lesson began, my heart broke. There she sat on the floor of her home in complete darkness, wrapped in a blanket, using only a flashlight so she could continue learning English."

The experience has become a powerful reminder of just how much education means to children growing up in one of the world's most unstable countries.

About 18 months ago, Manikus travelled to Venezuela to help launch a private school founded by her sister-in-law, who had dreamed since childhood of providing educational opportunities for children living in poverty. That dream eventually became reality when her sister-in-law transformed her home into a school with the help of volunteers, family and community supporters.

The school, Unidad Educativa Colegio Privado María Sixta, officially opened in October 2024 and now serves more than 130 students from kindergarten to Grade 6. Every student receives daily English and computer instruction, along with transportation to and from school, opportunities that are uncommon for many children in Venezuela.

Many public schools in the country operate only a few days each week, and some children receive little or no formal education at all. As a result, families place tremendous value on any opportunity for consistent learning.

"The children there are hungry for education," Manikus told the Paris Independent. "Many Venezuelan children do not have access to regular schooling, and education is something they deeply value."

Manikus' own journey to the school was anything but ordinary.

Because of political instability in Venezuela at the time, she, her brother-in-law and nephew encountered significant challenges crossing the border after discovering they did not have the required visas. After being detained, fingerprinted and questioned by border officials, they later crossed through another border route and eventually reached the school safely.

Once there, Manikus spent time teaching English before returning home to Canada. Today, she continues teaching three students every week through WhatsApp.

Her students include Sofia, 9, Juan, 11, and Miguel, 10.

Despite living in poverty, she said they approach every lesson with enthusiasm.

"They are joyful, respectful, and eager to learn," Manikus wrote. "These children understand something many adults take for granted. They know that learning English opens doors. They believe education can change their future."

Her connection with the students extends well beyond language lessons.

She recently mailed birthday gifts to each of them and said watching their reactions was one of the highlights of her teaching experience.

"Their excitement, gratitude, and joy were overwhelming," she said. "During our next class they proudly showed me everything they had made and thanked me over and over again."

That bond made the recent earthquake especially concerning.

When Manikus was unable to reach Sofia for their scheduled lesson, she assumed another routine power outage had interrupted internet service. It was only after they connected that she learned a major earthquake had struck the region less than an hour earlier.

Thankfully, Sofia and her family were safe, although they experienced aftershocks.

During the lesson, another tremor shook the area.

"Using a translator, I tried to comfort her and asked once more if she wanted to stop," Manikus said. "Again she answered, 'No, Teacher. Please continue.'"

The experience, she said, reinforced the resilience she has witnessed in Venezuelan children since first meeting them.

Many of the students attending the school are being raised by grandparents or extended family members after their parents left the country in search of work. Even so, Manikus said they remain grateful for every opportunity they receive and never take education for granted.

For Manikus, continuing to teach the children each week is about more than learning vocabulary or grammar.

She hopes every lesson helps provide encouragement and opens doors to future opportunities.

"What touched me most was seeing that even after such a frightening experience, Sofia still wanted to learn," she said. "As teachers, we hope to inspire our students, but sometimes our students inspire us."

Anyone interested in helping provide educational opportunities for a child in Venezuela can sponsor a student for $40 per month. The sponsorship helps cover an outstanding education, daily English and computer classes, transportation to and from school, and, most importantly, hope for a brighter future. Those interested in learning more or becoming a sponsor are encouraged to contact Carol Manikus at Carolinasnow24@hotmail.com for information on how they can make a difference.