Keeping Kids in School

 Fatima and Isback understand that the need to fund our teens’ higher education is one of the biggest challenges we face today. Without us they would not be in school this year.

All those sweet little baby faces we signed up at the center four years ago are maturing and growing faster than you can imagine.

The cost for a Linacan child to go to school is prohibitive for most of our teens. Bus fare alone is over $30 a month. Add to that uniforms, matriculation, food, and books, and you understand that a $28 monthly sponsorship will not go far. Parents of these children make around $30 - $50 a month in most homes.

We have begun a higher education fund for all the teen leaders in the center who would like to continue their education. These teens volunteer with us mentoring the younger children in the center. They will also be helping us branch into surrounding communities.

Not one of the girls that have remained faithful attendees of our center has gotten pregnant. However, last trip we were heartbroken to hear about two adorable young teen girls who infrequently attended our center in their younger years.

Both had since dropped out of public school and stopped attending the center.

 

Both girls became pregnant by strangers they met on a one night escape from the doldrums of Linaca. At the tender age of 15 these girls have all but guaranteed themselves and their babies a future without hope.

While those teens refused the help offered over the years, last month we rescued over 50 teens and children whose parents condemned them to work in the bean fields or foraging for wood instead of entering school.

For the lack of a pair of shoes or a few supplies children were being doomed to a life of poverty. In some cases it took a great deal of work and cajoling to get the parents to release their children to school and our center.

One such example is 10-year-old Flora, pictured here, on her first day at the center.

We have spoken of Flora many times since the day we met her a few months ago. Flushed from making tortillas in the hot kitchen, Flora had never heard of our center or been to school a day in her life. That very day Flora attended our center for the first time and was enrolled in our nutrition plan. She was also tutored in reading and writing.

Visiting her house many times over the past few months, we discussed with Flora’s mother the importance of her attending school. Just before school started we were told that Flora’s mother preferred that Flora stay home so she could collect wood for the fogon and make tortillas for the large extended family. It was no easy feat to convince Flora’s mother to let her attend school. But we persevered until the mother said yes.

We provided Flora with a complete uniform, shoes, backpack, and all supplies to enter school. She could not stop smiling that day. We pray for a bright future for girls like Flora.