By Isa Corletto | JustWorld Intern
Dear friends,
We hope you are having a great start to your summer! We cannot be more thankful for your continual support, and we are proud to present to you some of what our projects have done this year. Here are some of the most recent accomplishments that would not have been possible without your help:
People Improvement Organization (PIO) in Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Meet Rachana! She is in Grade 5 and her interests are dancing, learning, and her little brother. When asked to share something important to her, she replied, "My mother had a new baby with her husband a couple months ago. We went to the province with my brother for the holidays, but the last day my mom asked me to stay home and take care of my new sister isntead of going back to the PIO shelter. She called PIO to tell them, but the day after the social worker came and told her she couldn't do that. I like to learn and live at PIO, but I couldn't say no to my mother. Fortunately, the social worker convinced my mother just like she did 3 years ago, that it was better for me to go to school and learn than staying home all day. I am lucky."
This year, 1,269 students are currently enrolled at PIO, 800 of whom are sponsored by JustWorld. For sponsored students, the dropout rate is only 15% - less than half the rate for unsponsored students. All 800 students have received school supplies and uniforms directly funded by JWI. Senior students have been employed to repair and cover books - there are now over 6,000 books in the library.
Aside from their academic classes, children at PIO are given the opportunity to participate in several after-school activities. 37 students, 24 female and 13 male, receive a JustWorld funded Traditional Dance class every week.
The social worker has continued to visit an average of 20 families per month in an attempt to help families that have had problems, which are usually erratic attendance from the students.
Additionally, Phymean Noun, the Founder and Director of PIO, had been nominated for the World's Children's Prize! Check it out here!
Los Patojos in Jocotenango, Guatemala
Ever since the inauguration of “Centro Socioeducativo Licenciado Magno Rudy Romero Arévalo” in January, 170 students have enrolled in the school, which has now been recognized by the Guatemalan Ministry of Education. Because of the changes in scheduling that have occurred, there have had to be changes in the nutritional program. Instead of snacks, breakfast is now served every day. Up to now, 13,723 breakfasts, 13,406 lunches, and 2,800 dinners have been served at Los Patojos. These 29,929 total meals have benefitted 167 children and 47 young adults daily. Construction of all three phases was just completed on Tuesday and visitors are always welcome to come see Los Patojos in action!
In addition, the Cultural Action Institute “Paulo Freire” was created this year. A group of young people meets 5 times a week with the intention of creating a space for dialogue, discussion, and compassion in their community. They do this through activities such as theater, juggling, breakdancing, and musical productions.
The main medical clinic is still under construction, so a temporary one has been functioning this year to meet the needs of the children and their families. From the moment it first opened on March 11, the clinic has treated 338 patients of all ages, averaging 21 per day. The youngest patient was 7 months old, and the oldest was a 57 year old woman. Respiratory problems, gastrointestinal diseases, dermatological problems, and traumas are only some of the issues this clinic has dealt with so far.
Asociación Compartir in Tegucigalpa, Honduras
22 performances of “The Adventures of Don Quijote” were arranged to be put on at different educational centers, both private and public, in April. These performances included the animation of the text and the recording of audio to facilitate the presentation of the play on different stages and to diverse audiences.
This school year began with over 2000 children and their families participating in the artistic and animation activities. One of the most important institutional activities was the distribution of school supplies and uniforms to all the participants. 4,847 boys and girls have participated in one or more of the following programs: Mobile Library, artistic workshops, visits to cultural centers and didactic concerts, and Videoteca activities.
25 participants received capacitation on redaction of technical documents, and one received masters degree in Library Science from the local university. In addition, a specialist was hired to work at the library in order to generate knowledge and help systematize the operation.
We appreciate all you have done to help us and kids such as Rachana. Have a wonderful day, and we look forward to continue working with you!
With love,
The JustWorld Team
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