María Isabel Carvajal

María Isabel Carvajal, better known by her pen name Carmen Lyra, was a pioneering Costa Rican writer, educator, and political activist. Born in 1888, she is celebrated for her significant contributions to literature and her advocacy for children's rights and education. Carmen Lyra founded one of the first preschool institutions in Latin America, the Escuela Maternal, in 1925, which emphasized the importance of early childhood education and the well-being of children from diverse social backgrounds. Her work laid the groundwork for the universalization of preschool education in Costa Rica and inspired generations of educators.