At the Ismaelillo Childcare Center, where she has worked uninterruptedly for 26 years, María Esther Céspedes devotes her days to children in the second cycle of early childhood education. There, amidst songs and short stories, she has built a life story.

Las Tunas, Cuba.- With nearly three decades of service under her belt, this educator continues to pour love and commitment into every detail of teaching the youngest children.

She entered the former Pepito Tey Teacher Training School, where she studied up to the ninth-grade level. "I spent five years studying at that center, then I completed my bachelor's degree; in total, it was ten years of study," she recalls.

She completed her first year of mandatory service at the Amiguitos del Minint Childcare Center before joining the “Ismaelillo,” where she continues working.

Although she began by caring for children in their third year of life, she soon discovered that her true calling lay with the youngest ones. "I really liked working with them, but I preferred the littlest ones —the first cycle, an early age— where I did many wonderful things with the children and their families."

"It is the year that defined my life; I feel that children learn more easily then. Plus, you need a great deal of love and dedication to help them develop clear speech and ensure they understand what you want them to learn."

It is a challenging stage, she acknowledges, because many children arrive from home with bad habits and little prior knowledge. "Here, they become independent; they handle tasks on their own and carry out activities involving up to three-step sequences."

For María Esther, the family is a fundamental link in the educational process. "The institution and the family must work closely together to spot any situation or difficulty and identify children who need extra attention."

"Many parents tell us their children don't open up or take initiative, but here they have to, because they engage in activities where they learn necessary manners and habits; they have to follow the guidance I provide as their educator," she notes.