But beyond the numbers, we wanted to take a look into the lives of our beneficiaries, and share some of their thoughts on the programs last year.
In the past, the government only provided a small snack. Now, the children also receive a full meal, which benefits their growth. From my point of view, the school meals are better this way because the children are now eating a variety of healthy foods.
And my daughter no longer wastes money on chips or cookies at recess time. Instead, she tells me how tasty the meal was at school and that it filled her up. I can see that my daughter now receives a nutritious and delicious meal each day and is learning about the nutritional benefits of the healthy foods on her plate.
I imagine it has helped other families as well. The project has taught me that I should prioritize preparing healthy foods at home. I have participated in meetings and trainings with Pueblo a Pueblo, and I have learned a lot about healthy cooking and how to provide my daughter with the most nutritious foods possible.
I have always been a person with big dreams and aspirations, but until Pueblo a Pueblo crossed my path, I had not been able to fully express myself as I wanted to. The knowledge gained through the Youth Leadership Project has completely transformed my life. I now find myself fearless in everyday situations, and with the tools I have been given, I now know there is absolutely nothing I can’t achieve.
Unfortunately, this knowledge was not passed down to me or my siblings, and we were unaware of these age-old practices. Now, I am proud to say that not only do I know how to identify a variety of plants and species, I also know how to plant them!
I have also shared the things I have learned about agriculture with my grandfather and he has put those things into practice. For example, my grandfather used to spend a lot of money on chemical fertilizers. But after I taught him how to use chicken and cow manure, he has seen an improvement in the health of his corn plantations and has been able to save money. We are working together with our past for a better tomorrow.
Thanks to the support of the Primary Education Scholarships Project, my daughter Juanita can go to school with the necessary tools to study. The project has also allowed Juanita to receive medical care that she wouldn’t have otherwise accessed.
We could not afford the clinic. At most, I would go to the local convenience store to buy aspirin or some other basic type of medicine to help ease her sickness. With the health services included in the sponsorship, when my daughter is sick, I can take her to the doctor and get proper medical treatment. Now that Juanita is healthy, she can go to school and concentrate in class. She is doing much better and is excelling in her studies.