Written by Ersy Caporali, Back2Back Cancun Site Staff

Before Cesar ever opened a book within Back2Back programming, he carried struggles no nine-year-old should face. Learning felt like a daily battle, made heavier by bullying, frustration, and the effects of a brain injury that made focus and retention nearly impossible. Even with all his potential, the classroom seemed less like a place of growth and more like a place of defeat.

Back2Back staff refused to let those barriers define him. His social worker connected him with doctors and specialists, ensuring he had the medical care he needed. With this safety net in place, Cesar began to re-engage in the classroom in ways he never had before. Slowly, his burdens gave way to breakthroughs.

At the end of the last school year, Cesar stood in front of teachers, parents, staff, and a visiting mission team to present his project with confidence. The boy who once shrank back from attention now enjoys school, loves to learn, and knows his classroom is a safe haven.

Without this intervention, Cesar might still feel isolated and defeated. Instead, he is proof that when children are surrounded by trauma-informed educators and safe spaces, they flourish.

Every child Back2Back serves holds this same untapped potential. With the right tools, safe adults, and ongoing investment, no mountain is too high.