By Natasha Baker | Development Volunteer
My name is Neto and I participate in MSMC’s Indigenous Youth Achieving Their Dreams project. Today I’m going to tell you the story of how I received my first higher education degree, in nursing, on my way to becoming a doctor. It wouldn’t have been possible without MSMC, so thank you for your support of this amazing organization. Without it, my dreams wouldn’t come true!
MSMC has been working in my community since 2007 through a project called “Sim a Vida,” or Yes to Life. The focus of the project is not only helping youth stay away from bad influences like drugs, but also to help them connect to their indigenous roots, as we are Pitaguary. I not only participated in the project as a youth, but was also a volunteer. I helped youth learn about how to get engaged in their community, what the political structure of the Pitaguary is, how to celebrate indigenous culture, and more.
One day, in 2010, Father Rino asked the youth in my community what we wanted to be and what we would do to help our community. I knew my answer right away and said, “I want to be a doctor.” Father Rino got really excited and gave me a lot of support. He told me that becoming a doctor was about helping the community, about helping the most abandoned and excluded among us.
Soon after, the great indigenous leader Lakota Adam from the United States came to visit us. While he was here, we did the sacred sauna ritual. I realized that this ritual was part of my path to becoming a doctor because I want to work in my indigenous community and strengthening my connection to the Pitaguary culture will help me be a better doctor.
Over the years, I became more and more involved with MSMC. In 2011, I was one of 30 indigenous students who received scholarships to attend the private high school Pia Marta Montese. I graduated from high school and although I still wanted to go to college to become a doctor, the entrance exam (the vestibular) is really competitive, so I decided to first complete a technical degree in nursing at the technical school of Maracanaú. The Indigenous Youth Achieving Their Dreams project paid for my studies.
On October 30, 2015, I proudly received my diploma. It wasn’t easy and I still have a long way to go. But I will not give up! On November 22nd I will take the vestibular in hopes of getting into medical school. I know that MSMC will continue to be there with me every step of the way and I am forever grateful to have this organization in my life.
Thank you again for supporting my dreams!
Mitakuye Oyasin.
Îandé Memé Maranongara
Somos Todos Parentes
We are all related.
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