ANDERSON­ — After a recent school day at Anderson Elementary, about 20 fourth- and fifth-grade students are getting an education in who they are and where they come from.

“OK, niños y niñas,” says English as a New Language teacher Shirley Payne, as she begins a lecture in Spanish. The students listen, respond in Spanish, and, when asked, in English.

At each table of youngsters sit high school girls who are there to help teach and guide the younger students, and maybe learn from them. They are Latina Mentors.

“When you’re with the same people who speak the same language ... it’s beautiful,” says Wendy Santiago, a senior at Anderson High School and one of the first students who volunteered for the fledgling program, which mentors students in the after-school Club Latino.

“I thought it was cool,” Santiago says of the program, “and I always like to try something new.”

Anderson Community Schools psychologist Maria Hernandez-Finch developed the Latina Mentors program after seeing a need among the growing population of students from Spanish-speaking countries. Once a week, several Anderson High School students volunteer to visit Anderson Elementary’s Club Latino, sharing with younger students a common language and culture, and serving as role models in the novel program.

“Latinas are increasing in population all across the United States,” Hernandez-Finch says, “but the graduation rate is not good.” Improving that rate is one of the goals of the program.

“The more Spanish you know and speak, the better you actually do in English classes,” Hernandez-Finch says. “Also, children really need to see someone from their culture who is successful. We’ve had students tell us they feel like they don’t belong here, and they don’t know the purpose for going to school or the reason for going to school.”

That would not be the case with Yarely Sarahi Osuna. The 10-year-old fifth-grader’s hand shoots skyward nearly each time Payne asks the class a question.

After class, she’s just as quick with an answer when asked what she wants to be when she grows up. “Chef!” she smiles.

“You can learn a lot of stuff,” Yarely says of the after-shool session. “I learn about people that have been in Mexico a long time ago ... Maybe you can learn new words, and how to pronounce them.”

Two years ago, Yarely spoke no English, says ACS liaison interpreter Maria Miller. “She can do anything she wants to do,” Miller says. “She just wants to learn.”

Cultivating attitudes like those also are goals of the Latina Mentors program, for all the students.

“I want to be a teacher and I want to help children,” says Brenda Ruiz, an AHS senior and a Latina Mentor.

Landy Mendoza, an AHS junior, wants to study to be a pediatrician after high school. She explained why the program is important to her.