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Charity Helps Underprivileged Children in Baja Sur

Breakfast Program for Centenario Children at Primera Leona Vicario

In La Paz school is finished July 5. Just like students everywhere, these children get excited about the summer holidays. However, most of these children will be required to help their parent or parents in the family business through the summer.
For some of the children leaving grade six, it will be a worrisome summer not knowing if there will there be enough money to enable them to go into Grade 7. It costs approximately $310.00 US dollars a year for each student to continue on to ‘secondaria’ ( grades 7, 8 and 9). Students going to ‘prepatoria’ school (grades 10, 11 and 12) can expect to pay $450 US each year. These costs include uniforms which are mandatory, gym clothes, backpacks, books, supplies, fees and in some cases transportation.

The Rotary Club Todos Santos (of La Paz) has kindly offered four grants this year to the children at Leona Vicario Primaria School plus three of the American volunteers have provided funds to help three more students. Seven full grants were more than we hoped for and we are extremely grateful but we are still looking for additional funding to enable more children to continue with their education.

How to Help:

Two hundred and fifty (250) pesos (approximately $25.00 U.S.) will provide a healthy breakfast for sixty-seven (67) children. You
can either donate money or donate your time and money to purchase groceries and deliver them to the school. Some of the volunteers also help in the serving and clean-up. $310 will send one student on to secondaria and $450 will send one student to prepatoria. Any assistance is greatly
appreciated.

Director: Dhorea Ryon Contact: dhorearyon@hotmail.com

Can you help with the scholarship fund or with the breakfast program?

All donations and expenses are closely monitored and each and every cent or pesos goes towards food or scholarships. The money is not given directly to the families but to the appropriate sources . For example, the uniform is prepaid and the student and their family go to the store and choose the appropriate size.

More Below...

Decisions regarding who receives the financial help is made by a committee of three. This year the school Director and a Representative of DIF (similar to our Social Workers) and Dhorea had to make the difficult choices.Decisions are based on academic achievement and family income. The report cards are marked 1 - 10 with 10 being the highest score. The children are considered eligible to apply if their scores are over 7.5 and the total family income is under $400.00 month. We also ask how big their homes are and what material is used in construction, cardboard or cement block.

Profiles

Letty is a mom and volunteers in our breakfast program. The benefits of her volunteering includes a warm nutritious meal and receiving the left over food and any donated clothing. She is pictured above in front of her home with her two children Jesus and Ericka. Jesus is going into Grade 5 this September and is typical of the type of student who will not be able to continue on to secondary school without financial aid.

Diana is one of the recipients of our grants. She is pictured standing in front of her home. Her grades are very high and the family is considered in need. Her mom Cecilia also helps with the breakfast program and does this as a way to help her community.

C. Juan Manuel Aquiniga Garcia is the Subdelegado, or Mayor of Centenario. Lucia Hernandez Gutierrez is the community nurse and the Director or School Principal is Arturo Escobosa Verdugo. The Director of the School has reported to us that the teachers have commented that ‘the children are more motivated and alert in the classroom and that good nutrition has helped them to learn better’. They thank all of us for our help.

A heartfelt ‘thank you’ goes out to everyone who has contributed prior or is contributing on a monthly basis. Remember contributions can be money or food such as a case of milk or juice. If you are interested in any way, or want more information please do not hesitate to contact us at the e-mail below.