By Amber Warren | Programs Manager
Dear Friends,
We hope you enjoyed the holidays! Did you celebrate through music, crafts, and parties with family and friends? Our partners have been busy with celebrations and events as well!
Asociación Compartir, Honduras | The Christmas holiday and recent presidential elections provided great opportunities for students at Compartir. The youth journalism group attended forums for the elections and even prepared reports for national media! Four girls attended a forum on girls’ issues and needs in Honduras with female representatives from other communities and programs. Then, on December 7th, Compartir organized readings, an art show, painting stations, and a music performance with children from three communities around the city at a local shopping center which serves 700 visitors per day. They encouraged shoppers to join in on the activities, make donations, and leave messages of peace on a Christmas box, sharing their mission throughout the day.
“Visiting the projects has made me have a broader perspective on life and how the small things can create such a huge difference in a person's life. Also, I've noticed how appreciative people have been of the work JWI does and this makes me very proud.”- Visitor to Compartir and Los Patojos
Los Patojos, Guatemala | A group of JustWorld supporters from the US and Canada visited Los Patojos in November, some of whom had visited multiple times before and noticed a marked change in the project- even from their last visit in April. A new reporting process is in effect, tracking lesson plans as well as the health and nutrition of students. They’ve set their goal for the medical clinic to serve 5,000 in 2014. Los Patojos has also reached two incredible milestones; they successfully organized 34 hours of activities in their community to promote ‘24 Hours - 0 Violent Deaths’ and their blueprints were approved in November for their new centre and construction has begun!
“I have enjoyed being involved for such a long time and watching the progress of the project. I am impressed with Juan Pablo and his dedication.” –Visitor
“This isn't just a temporary fix, its changing the course of their lives; their health, education, nutrition and leadership. Visiting the project allowed me to actually measure the impact and involvement JustWorld has in it. It gave me a better sense of what we help achieve and what the needs are.” –Visitor
Reflection from a Patoja: "This year, 2013, has become a new challenge since I have learned that I am an individual that does not depend on what people say, I have understood that I want to be an excellent educator. I have also maintained very good school grades; that means that I have become more responsible, not only in my life, but on a social level as well. I have not become pregnant and that is a successful process. The average young mother is between the ages of thirteen to fifteen years old, which is quite sad. However, it is also a motivation to better myself. My family’s economic stability is not the best and living in a materialistic world is complicated. Although I am not an only child and my career is quite expensi¬ve, I have been able to study and am achieving my dream of being a professional young person due to the help and support of JustWorld Inter-national and Los Patojos.” Click here for Los Patojos’ 2013 Newsletter to read more of Meli’s story and others’ at Los Patojos.
People Improvement Organization (PIO), Cambodia | A group of 18 JustWorld supporters from France, Germany, Sweden, Italy, Hong Kong, Canada, Switzerland, and the US visited PIO’s schools in October- this was the biggest group yet! One of the visitors commented, “I came to the slum five years ago and almost nothing was there. Today, I can see art, teaching, kitchen, and more impressive smiling children well educated, in two sums; well dressed and who look happy to be there.” PIO has been growing and strives to serve more students in the community- they have 100 new students enrolled for 40 spaces and will be submitting a proposal for building additions.
While reflecting on the milestones each of our partners has set this year and their progress over the past few months, we would like to thank you especially for being part of our global community. We appreciate your dedication to helping others and believing in the children participating in our programs. If you’d like to know more about a particular project, let us know! With your support, these students continue to learn and grow every day. Happy New Year!
Sincerely,
JustWorld International
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