Help 100 Mexican Children Stay in Secondary School

The last trimester of the ’18-’19 school year at HECAT has been full of joy, color, and music. Spring arrived and brought many celebrations such as our Spring Festival, Children’s Day, Mother’s Day, and so on. But this spring was extra special. As part of the American School of Torreon (CAT)’s Art Week 2019, we were delighted to experience at home the results of a generous opportunity that CAT has given some of our students: the opportunity to express oneself through art.

On April 11, the cast of the play “El Yeitotol” (“The Three Birds”) made up by students from CAT and HECAT demonstrated that art is bigger than economic or social differences as it provides a safe space for our children to explore their creativity and talents. The selection of the play could not have been more appropriate. The fable of “El Yeitotol” narrates the journey of three birds who wish to go beyond the highest mountain to find wonders, to find the Yeitotol.

This play is a story about teamwork, courage, tolerance and the fact that we are all part of a whole, but it also reflected the story of the collaboration process between HECAT and CAT. While one would be tempted to point out the unsymmetrical economic realities between students in both institutions, Faride, a 4^th grader at HECAT and the lead role in the play did not hesitate to point out that “CAT made it easier for us to participate. A van from CAT would pick us up after classes every Tuesday and Thursday and they made everything easier for us so we could learn something new, and make new friends so I never felt different.

Marian (also a 4^th grader at HECAT), like her character in the play, also saw this as an adventure: “They offered us to study robotics, Chinese or acting but I decided to take this opportunity because I am sometimes shy….Acting has shown me not to feel ashamed; acting taught me not to be afraid.”

Faride, who has been in the drama workshop at CAT for 3 years says the most important thing she has learned is that “we can all do big things if we work together, support and respect each other”.

The CAT+HECAT Drama students invite you to their end of school year presentation this June 6 where they will display once more how art brings people together. All of our students at HECAT are stars, but these girls have extra make-up and wings. Bravo to our elementary school stars!

And your contribution?

Thanks to your help, the construction of our new library was finished since our last report where we had been able to fundraise our final $1,500 for phase 1 (construction).

We have now expanded our budget to begin with the second phase of the project (furnishing and equipping). So far, we have been able to raise another $390 during the month of May, but we still need more support to be able to purchase a few desks, chairs, 4 desktop computers and internet installation in the Middle School section for our students.

Stay tuned to know how you can support students like Faride, Jade, Marian and Arantzazú continue shining!

With your support, our students will be the stars lighting a brighter future!