Education for 250 working children in Chiapas

Dear supporters,

Over the last 12 months, your help has made a huge difference to the children in the project. During this period, 258 children aged 6 -13 have taken part in activities.

The independent evaluation of the project, conducted last summer, found that 94% of children passed their end of year school test, and that 100% want to continue studying. This is a big difference in a city where a third of children drop out of education after primary school (and a substantial number never enroll, even at primary level).

We know our project works, and we’re incredibly grateful for your help: on a daily basis we see the difference it makes to the children.

But, as ever, work like this requires resources. That’s why we’re asking in the run-up to Christmas if you could support us with a donation, to help us keep this project running throughout 2014.

And if you think friends, colleagues or family might support our project, please consider telling them - share the following link on Facebook or Twitter, or just bring us up in conversation: http://tinyurl.com/mb9tax3

Thanks once again for your generous support, I hope you have a great Christmas.

PS if you haven’t already seen it, please watch this 60 second video from the children thanking you for your help. http://youtu.be/LjthBWog3HI

What the children say about the project:

“I used to be afraid of trying anything, I thought I’d never amount to anything. I was afraid to go to secondary school because I didn’t think I was good enough. Now I feel that I really can do things. Taking part has changed the way I am.” (Sara, 13)

“I live in San Cristóbal de Las Casas, in Chiapas. This [the project] has helped me a lot. Before I used to get low marks at school because the textbooks were too expensive for my family. Thanks to the scholarship from Melel, my marks have improved.” (Martha, 11)

What parents say:

“I’ve said to my children that I want them to go to school, it’s the best inheritance I can give them. So that when they’re older they can be a sales manager or a teacher or something like that, not a street vendor like me. (Daniel, father)

 “I see how enthusiastic my daughter is when she comes back from school and does her homework, she seems much more lively these days; even the teacher has been congratulating us for sending her to Melel”. (Annalisa, Mother)