Education with Dignity Transforms Children’s Lives

(See the full campaign on our website)

Our partner, Hogar Luceros del Amanecer, is a local organization that has been providing an education to poor children in Camoapa for almost 20 years. They are working with 400 children in primary and secondary schools in urban and rural locations. Hogar supports teachers with educational materials, improves the schools’ infrastructure, and offers many extracurricular activities – dance, art, music, computing, English and academic reinforcement, among others – at their centre.

This year’s project focuses on the nutrition program and school supplies for the children, which includes uniforms, shoes, knapsacks, notebooks, pens and pencils, etc. The meals and snacks provided are a main contributor to ensuring almost universal retention and high academic achievement. They also contribute to the children’s food security, and to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals on ending poverty, zero hunger, and quality education.

María Teresa Velasquez is a young deaf woman who came to Hogar when she was seven years old. She was the youngest of five children who lived with their elderly mother in a house made out of wooden boards and plastic sheeting. Hogar hired a specialist to teach sign language to the teachers and students. Teresita graduated high school and has taken several technical courses. Now she is a member of Hogar’s dance group and she also works at the centre, where she is a much-appreciated member of the team!

Jael Amaru Ortega is a 14-year old boy who started studying at Hogar when he was eight. Despite having discipline problems at his previous school, his teacher soon realized he had a tremendous talent for drawing. He took courses in the drawing at Hogar’s art academy and has received vocational training as a barber. He works at the barber shop, cuts hair for Hogar students for free, and does drawings for his classmates for fun. He, his mother and his teachers are so proud of his success!

Hogar’s director commented, “every penny invested in the children changes their lives and transforms their standard of living. The children live with greater dignity and more opportunities to overcome poverty and marginalization. The children express their happiness, joy, and gratitude with big smiles, which makes us so glad to provide this service.”

We ask you to join us in supporting this vital community project and make a difference in the lives of so many children, today and in the future.