Give Hope a Chance, support a childs education

 CEI helped me see that in my family, together we can be better.

Ivon is a 11-year-old girl, who lives in Lomas de San Juan, Cuilapam de Guerrero, with her two sisters Roxana, 9, Daniela, 13, her younger brother Carlos, 2, and her mother Silvia, 30. They migrated from the community of San Miguel Peras, Oaxaca.

In the city of Oaxaca they are without a support network, being the only ones from their community. Due to their economic situation, they live in a borrowed room in Lomas de San Juan Cuilapam.

Ivon and her family began coming to Centro de Esperanza Infantil in september of  2022. At first, they came only for homework support, then in November they started to attend the workshops, and from December onwards they were more constant.

In January, Silvia told us that her eldest daughter had been visiting her hometown to see her paternal grandparents. Since March 2022, however, the day she was to return, her grandparents did not send her back.

Daniela (13 years old) was left in the care of her paternal grandparents with the idea that she was going to study, however, they occupied her to take care of the family grocery store, preventing her from going toschool and working long hours.

In mid-January, under the pretext that she was coming on vacation, we told Silvia (mother) that we could go talk to the principal of the primary school where Roxana and Ivon were enrolled.

After several visits to the school the principal agreed to allow Daniela to enroll in 5th grade. Coordinators worked with Daniela with homework support and tutoring.

At the beginning of February, they stopped coming constantly, since their mother lost her job as a tortilla maker.

We tried not to lose contact and since there is transportation support they can come more regularly.

Ivon and her siblings are now more independent, their grades have improved, but above all they have found a support network in Centro Esperanza Infantil that they had not had for a long time.

While recent institutional efforts to reduce educational gaps have been significant, discrimination against vulnerable families still permeates Oaxaca. It is a state that, on one hand, proudly recognizes the contributions of indigenous cultures, but on the other, fails to fully respect human rights, such as non-discrimination, equality between men and women, and access to health, education, housing, and work opportunities. At a grassroots level and with a limited population, Centro de Esperanza Infantil seeks to reduce the root causes of school dropout in a variety of ways: through grade-specific academic counseling to strengthen education, providing medical and psychological care, and personalized support to families. We achieve this through a multidisciplinary approach that strengthens our beneficiaries’ abilities and skills, recognizes their rights, validates their culture, and encourages them to work to support their own communities.

Elias

Elias is a 3 year old boy who comes to Casa Emilie Xoxo with her 31 year old mother Catalina. They live nearby and are part of the Casa Abierta program. Melisa loves to paint and draw. Catalina is originally from Juquila, but moved to Oaxaca City, along with Melisa and her husband, to pursue better living conditions. However, they were forced to move again, given high rent and insecurity in their first neighborhood in the city and have now settled in the Palestina neighborhood of Santa Cruz Xoxocotlán.

They came to inquire about our services after hearing from neighbors that there was a place where they were being fed. At first, they came in search of food. Money is limited as Catalina makes tortillas and her husband is a bricklayer’s helper. 

Catalina is now participating in sewing, cooking and psychological support workshops. Melisa is also growing her skills: she has learned to speak and communicate more, is very sociable and likes to read stories. Thanks to our games, he can already identify colors and shapes,he enjoys talking with our volunteers, while her favorite food is milanesas with rice.

His parents thought it was better to wait a year before Elias could study, due to the payments, however thanks to the support of donors Elias can enter first grade this year and thus begin this great story at school.

Catalina, her mother, was able to pay the tuition fees, the purchase of uniforms, school supplies, shoes, and some fees that were asked of her in Kindergarten.

He start kindergarten in September, he loves his uniform and his colors but what he likes most is his Avengers backpack, which he chose!