Saira Gutierrez became a GOJoven Fellow at age 24 when she worked as a teacher and vice principal at a primary school in Bella Vista, a poor English-speaking village created to house Central American immigrants working on the banana plantations. Under Saira’s direction, school staff provided workshops on sexual and reproductive health to students for the first time ever. Saira also has experience as the principal of Fabian Cayetano Roman Catholic School, and has provided workshops on sexual and reproductive health and HIV prevention with the Bella Vista Catholic youth group. She is a role model and informal counselor to the youth in her community, who face many health and development challenges.