December 2011

Mexico City scholarships

 

*Rosario is the mother of three young adults. In her youth, Rosario and her family worked to send her brother through engineering school.  Now Rosario is continuing her own education. She is in grade 12, and wishes to study at the National Autonomous University in Mexico City to become a Social Worker.

Rosario needs $300.00 per semester to continue with her studies.

 

*Christian, the oldest son, will begin his first year of university in January 2012 at the Polytecnico School. He, like his uncle, wishes to become a civil engineer. Christian needs approximately $300.00 a semester for school supplies and books, and bus money.

 

*Viviana (daughter) will start grade 11 in January 2012.  She needs approximately $210.00 to cover books, school and art supplies, as well as bus fare. Blanca, the youngest daughter, will begin grade 9 in January 2012. She needs approximately $140.00 to cover books, school and art supplies, and bus fare.

 

 

December 2011

  

 *Paula is 16 years old and will start 8th grade  in January 2012. She lives in the town of San Juan, Armenia. She needs $525. for the school year.

 

*Ingrid is 12 years old and will begin 7th grade. She lives in the rural area of San Miguelito, Sonsonate. She needs $525. for the school year.

 

*Ely David is 18 years old and will begin 12th grade. He also lives in San Miguelito. He Needs $525, for the school year. He wishes to become a forensic medicine physician.

 

*Adonay is 17 years old, and graduated from high school in December 2011. He does not wish to study at university level.

 

Daniel and Patricia are the first two "Cherie's Kids" Youth Leadership Formation Program recipients of scholarship funds. GATE Charitable Giving has sent $1,850 to each for their year of study at the National University in San Salvador, El Salvador.

 

Daniel: He has just turned 21. His father is a laborer and his mother works in their home. Daniel is the oldest of 3. The youngest daughter is mentally challenged, due to a fever as a child. Daniel joined the youth leadership program in January of 2009.

 

In the beginning, Daniel did not have much interest in this youth leadership opportunity as he saw it as one more thing like school.  But in the middle of the year, Daniel was able to trust and confide in Carlos that he (Daniel) had lost his desire to live, and had given himself the date of his 21st birthday as the end of his life. Little by little Carlos discovered that there were big problems in Daniel's home. His mother and siblings were recipients of his father's violence. Daniel's father did not give much attention to Daniel, so often Daniel only had enough money to cover his bus fare to school, with nothing left for food. There was no money for school supplies, either, so Daniel would spend his day at school, possibly have a soft drink, and then walk back home. Daniel's mother often did not receive  money for household expenses. In the midst of all this, with trust established, Carlos invited Daniel to accompany him to a different kind of workshop. Little by little Daniel discovered that he is a person of worth who has confronted the difficulties in his life, and is searching for answers. Over time, Daniel has come to realize that he has worth as a human being, he can speak English, he knows how to use a computer, is able to draw, and is skilled at acquiring knowledge.

 

Given his home situation, he decided to leave his university studies and work, because there are no financial resources to support his studies.  Thus the scholarship money is instrumental to help change Daniel's personal situation. Daniel has turned into a leader in his municipality of Soyapango. Already this year (2011) he has prepared two theater plays and helped to organize a festival in Archbishop Romero's honor and memory. The second theater festival will be presented at the end of 2011.

 

From the youth of 8 municipalities that form the Youth Leadership Formation School, Daniel's group is second only to Carlos' initial group! Daniel is now capable to assist Carlos with presentations and the content of the leadership  workshops. The $ 1,850. scholarship has changed Daniel's life.
 

 

 

1. The Co-Madres (Mothers of the Disappeared Monsignor Oscar Romero) have been working for human rights since the late 1970's. The Co-Madres are an
internationally recognized organization that works against impunity and for bringing to justice the perpetrators of horrific abuses during and after the civil war in El Salvador.

The Co-Madres have been part of a Mental Health project for 5 years. Group therapy is offered to family members who have had family members "disappeared," murdered or tortured. A group of up to 60-65 people can receive this helpful therapy per year. $8,000.00 covers the expenses for a psychologist and her assistant to help people in 3-4 areas of the country each year.

 

2. The Co-Madres continue to education  the poor. They offer workshops in 4-5 locations each year. Copies of the Salvadoran Constitution are given to each participant, and people are brought together to learn how to organize themselves and claim their own human rigfhts. $ 8,000.00 a year covers the cost for the workshops throughout the year.

 

3. Sewing machine project: a request had been made by rural women for a sewing machine in their homes. Most of the women are single mothers, their husbands either were killed during the war or the husbands have left home to seek employment elsewhere. A group of over 24 women have received sewing machines for their homes. They are able to make clothes for their own children, and then make clothes to sell. This income supplement is crucial for their families.
Cost of a home model sewing machine: TBA
Cost of an industrial level sewing machine: TBA

 

4. Water project:  GATE has completed three water projects in El Salvador. The last project, in La Puerta, has provided water to 300 families in 3 villages. Two of the 3 villages are in the final process of digging trenches and laying the pipes. The third village is in "discussion" with their mayor. Joy and gratitude abound in La Puerta this Christmas, thanks to all of you who have donated to make this third water project a reality.