At seven years old, Karla Mirelis could not identify colors, textures, or shapes. Though she could copy words from the chalk board or school book, Karla could not read and did not know the alphabet. She was also disobedient in school and aggressive with her mother Arabel. At risk for being held back in the second grade, Karla's teacher suggested that Arabel enroll her daughter in International Child Care's Community Based Rehabilitation program.

Once enrolled, Maria Elena, an ICC rehabilitation promoter, visited Karla every week at her home in Cien Fuegos, a poor community of Santiago. Karla's mother, Arabel, worked long, exhausting days in the free trade zone so Maria Elena taught Karla's grandmother the rehabilitative exercises so that she could work with Karla and help her learn. Before long, Karla insisted that her mother also do the daily exercises with her because she loved learning so much.

Though Karla's behavior began to improve, her relationship with her mother remained tense. Karla's parents were having marital trouble and Karla was caught in the middle. One day Maria Elena was present for a particularly bad argument between Karla and her mother and so she pulled Karla aside and told her that it was important for her to respect both of her parents. Months later Karla gave Maria Elena a homemade card thanking her for being the best teacher she had ever had. Through the CBR program Maria Elena not only helped Karla read and write, but also taught her important lessons about love and respect. In addition, Karla's mother, Arabel, improved her parenting skills which contributed to Karla's improved behavior.

Karla and her mother had an agreement that she could pass to third grade if she improved her reading skills and behavior, so Karla worked especially hard. She learned to read and did all the additional homework that Maria Elena left her. Karla excelled so much that she was not only advanced to the third grade, but was able to skip a grade and is currently in the fourth grade!

As Karla completed the CBR program she told Maria Elena that she would be a new person in the future because of the work Maria Elena had done and the love she had shared with her through ICC's Community Based Rehabilitation program.