Give school & love to abandoned girls in Mexico

Dear Donor

We hope that you and your family are safe and healthy.  Just like everyone in the world right now, we are having a hard time through this pandemic. The girls have been in quarantine since the first week of March, following strict health and safety protocols to keep them and our caregivers safe. While it´s been tough, we are so grateful that we moved into the new house before this confinement as this gives them more space to live in.

We´ve been struggling with a steady income because our fundraising events were cancelled throughout the year.

But today is July Bonus Day and we ask for your donation, as our hopes for this particular Bonus Day are high. Just click this link, we will always be thankful for your generosity,

https://bit.ly/BONUSDAY20

Summer is here and most of them will have lots of time, they´ve been dreaming of building a business and making plans. We want our girls to thrive and come out of this hard time with new ideas, plans and dreams, and we want to keep supporting them as we always have.  

Links:

• Organization Web Page

Dear Donor,

We hope this email finds you and your loved ones well! 

Uncertain times and difficult times make people realize important things. This is true for us at Puerta Abierta, the crisis though tough on all the girls has brought good things. Spending time together at home, Magui the oldest one is teaching Gris our cook to read. It has done them both so much good. Gris is a very enthusiastic student and Magui feels great satisfaction and happiness in doing it, we are so proud of her. Giving is always more recomforting than receiving.

Lucy, you know Lucy, our main caregiver is doing home office because she is over 60. So as you can probably imagine, it is a challenge taking care of the girls virtually through a screen. However she´s taken on her responsibilities’, stepped up and jumps on to skype call and is present from 10 to 6 pm when most activities take place.  Susana our other caregiver moves the laptop around from room to room, so Lucy can be present with all the girls. Lucy had the great idea that each girl gave 30 minutes of their day to Lluvia our youngest who arrives several weeks before the quarantine and who has a language difficulty. This is allowing them all to spend time with her one on one and really getting to know her.  

Ana Gaby who is doing psychology at Uni is helping Lluvia the youngest with her language therapy, Ana Gaby attends each online session that Lluvia takes with her language therapist and gets Lluvia to practice the rest of the week. Each one learning and our goal is that with this therapy she can enroll in the first year of elementary in August!

The rest of the girls also help Lluvia with something different, Karla teaches her Spanish, Maria teaches her piano, Brisa teaches her writing skills.  It has been a wonderful experience for the family and has helped not only Lluvia but the whole family has learned and grown together in ways we never had before.

Puerta Abierta has always had angels around us, protecting the girls and this time is no different, we want to thank all you amazing donors who make the impossible possible!

From the bottom of our girls’ heart, thanks, 

Puerta Abierta

Links:

• Institution web page

A new beginning for a stage already lived

Having to go through stages already lived, brings us mixed feelings. The novelty of starting over again brings renewed strength, thinking that errors will be avoided  or   we will do better.  There is more energy, experience, although at the same time we are more aware, knowing the challenges to be faced.  This is what we are living today at our family home.   

As was the case 15 years ago, we have just received two new family members, a 6-year old girl, and her aunt of 15. Looking at the freshness of little Lluvia, how she scans and explores her new environment, makes us renew our efforts in making sure she maintains her dreams and awe for new discoveries, while enjoying her spontaneity and happiness, making us better persons and  a willing to perpetuate those moments.

We see both Lluvia and Zule her aunt, at peace with themselves and enjoying the warmth and structure bestowed upon them by the Puerta Abierta family, where they can also express their feelings and concerns with their now fellow sisters. They now know they are not alone, and can start walking towards their future – always uncertain – with the support, counsel and company of an always present adult.

Zule, now has family help that takes care of Lluvia and is relieved of not being alone in this task. She can now also think on her own future, and while living with her new siblings, share mutually beneficial discussions, ideals and personal projects according to her age. Lluvia meanwhile is already enjoying the care and affection of her elders, renewed by her candor. All are playing like little girls again!

Lucy has already found appropriate schools for both.  While they´ll be attending different schools they both know that they are reunited at home, both are together no matter the space and slowly but surely adapting and integrating into their new family. 

We are all part of a cycle, where like in an upward spiral we wish and hope to do our best.  These are our wishes, making a difference in those that leave and giving what is needed to those that arrive. 

 “All that does not grow, tends to disappear”, Puerta Abierta wants to grow and constantly renew itself.  There is so much to be accomplished!!

Links:

• webpage

Dear Donor,

We would love to share with you an insight into Magui´s (our oldest) world. A letter she wrote to explain what a new home means to her and the other girls who live in care homes. 

Your support in the form of a donation to this project means everything to us. It means we can  grow in giving double opportunities, we will grow to 24 girls soon with our 2^nd house project. We are almost there, just a few essentials away! We promise to give your help the best possible use, efficient and transparent. We promise to make sure that every donation we get will be aimed at making the future of our girls a better one. 

Their lives will change and so will yours, they will stay forever in your heart, thanking you from a far. 

Thank you so much for your help and effort in this project, our family thanks you from the bottom of our hearts!

Today Giving Tuesday we want you to remember us and give a little of your heart to our girls, just click the link at the bottom of the page and love freely our girls.

Magui´s Letter:

Fifteen years ago, when I first arrived in Puerta Abierta I finally understood the meaning of the word family. The sense of belonging, of being cared for, patience and loyalty. I learnt that I can enjoy and learn without having to fear for my safety or my future. I am part of something, I came home every day to a warm bed, food on the table and the assurance that no one could hurt me. The girls and I are a family. 

A couple of weeks ago we moved into our new home. For the past 2 years we have seen this house, this new home being built. We watched a dream literally coming true, the continuous effort from everyone who believes in our Project come to life. Every wall symbolizes each one of us, our strength to hold this family together. At the inauguration party, we finally made it our own, filled with laughter, smiles and love, the good and the bad, early morning breakfasts, late dinners, talks with friends and peace. 

I am thankful for people like you who continue to believe in our dreams and making them possible for us to live. I am currently about to finish university; I work part time and I have friends all over. Having a family gave me the strength and confidence to believe in myself and despite my childhood I stand stronger than ever. I am certain my “sisters” share the same feelings as me. Thank you for believing, thank you for supporting and thank you for the opportunities you continue to give us. 

Kind regards 

Magui

Links:

• Insitution web page

Brisa & Fatima,

We seem to believe that we control our lives and that if we act and behave righteously, everything will turn out right.  There is some truth to this. But on the other side, we need to acknowledge that there are many things that we cannot control.  If we have a clear idea and plan for the long run, we can establish paths towards our goals, even with tripping over every now and then.   A fundamental element to reach this purpose is to be courageous.

Puerta Abierta was recently summoned to our local child protection agency. They asked that we take two young sisters suffering domestic violence.  These young girls were courageous to leave their home, look for and find shelter in the agency, as they were running great risk by staying in a toxic and violent environment.  Their interest and goal had been to study, widen their opportunities and leave that unhealthy situation.  Circumstances were against them, and yet, they were brave enough to take an unconventional decision and leave.

For  Brisa and Fatima it was a brave decision, for Puerta Abierta has been extraordinary experience  and a blessing. They have their sights in their long term goals, studying, adapting, respecting their new home and family, looking forward to building a new personal history, taking advantage of this new opportunity for them and not looking and turning back.

Puerta Abierta´s family has reaped new benefits, as witnessing their great determination of getting ahead has instilled a new paradigm in the other girls. It has shown us to be firm and to not let them hesitate in their plan and go over of what they think they can.  As their tutors, we will help them, fostering their courage and always pushing them out of their comfort zone.  

We should build values from this experience, encourage their determination and strengthen the vision of them.   We should help them to be conscious they can overcome obstacles no matter how big they are, even if they fail several times. They have to learn to walk on uncomfortable and difficult paths. We should always remind them of the courage they have shown so far. The rest….. is part of life.

Links:

• Institution Web Page