Students and Projects:
Johanna Alejandra
$50 of $350 donated
Norte y Gütierrez, Colombia
My name is Johanna Alejandra. I am from El Cocuy, Boyaca State. I was born on February 24, 1995. My family includes my mother Gladys, my father Hugo, my twin brothers Carlos and Manuel, and my younger brother Sergio. My twin brothers were born prematurely and caught severe cases of pneumonia. We thought they were not going to survive; however, thanks to God they are now 11 years old. When I was two years old I fell from a second floor and suffered a traumatic brain injury. However, after medical treatment I completely recovered. My family’s income comes from my mother’s job. She works as secretary at the town’s high school. She has been working there for 15 years now. My father does not have a full time job. He sometimes works repairing cars. My mother is currently paying a mortgage for the house where we are living. The house where we live only has the lock up stage. Every month, my mother pays the mortgage, school expenses for the four of us and living expenses from her sala...
Erika Natalia
$10 of $350 donated
Bogota, Colombia
My name is Erika Natalia. I am 11 years old. I was born in Bogotá, Colombia, South America. I live with my mother Lilian Rocio, my stepfather Jonny Alexander, my younger brother Sergio and my little sister Stefany. We live in a rented apartment located in southern Bogota, an area where displaced and very poor people live. My real father abandoned my mother when she was pregnant. Hence I do not know him and have not received any support from him. My stepfather and my mother do not have jobs right now. My stepfather is looking for a job and my mother has to stay home to take care of us. Unfortunately, unemployment rates are very high in my country but my parents hope to find a full time job so they can pay debts and cover daily expenses. Not having a job and having to pay utilities, food, transportation and school expenses for my younger brother and me, my family is very short of money. Right now we are using some money my family had saved and also getting support from my grandmother...
Liset Aurora
$0 of $350 donated
Tunja, Colombia
My name is Liset Aurora. I was born in Tunja, Colombia, South America. I am 11 years old. I am the youngest of three children. My older sister is 21 and my younger sister is 20. She has a 2 year old baby. I live with my mother, my two sisters, my nephew and three uncles in a rented apartment. My father abandoned us when I was 4 years old. He lives with another woman and has a little girl-my third sister. Since then, my mother has not received any financial support from him. We, his daughters, do not receive any support towards our education. My mother has struggled and worked very hard to send us to school. My sisters already finished high school but because of financial difficulties were not able to attend college. My sisters do have to work to help my mother because she had an aneurysm and was not able to get a job again, even though she had the desired to continue working. My mother then started to make wooden handicrafts. She sells those handicrafts and with the money she gets w...
Maria Paula
$0 of $350 donated
Bogota, Colombia
My name is Maria Paula. I am 8 years old and I am in 3rd grade. I was born in a city called Medellin in the year 2000. My father is a pastor of a Christian Church and my mother is a kindergarten teacher's aid. We live close to my father’s job, in a small but nice apartment. I have my own room where I can play with my dolls and watch my favorite movies. I am the only child so I am somewhat pampered. I love to read, rollerblade, draw and play with my dolls. I also like music very much. Right now I am learning to play the drums. I am also learning English. When people come from other countries I like talking to them in English. My family’s income comes from my father and mother’s jobs. With that money my parents pay for housing, food, health and education expenses. My mother is also currently studying so it is a challenge to cover all expenses my family has. We want to have our own house someday.
Paola Alejandra
$25 of $350 donated
Bogota, Colombia
My name is Paola Alejandra. I am 14 years old. I was born in Bogotá, Colombia, South America. My family is made up of my mother, my father, one sister and three brothers. My youngest brother, my younger sister and I are studying now. I am in 8th grade. I study at the Francisco Antonio Zea School. I study in the afternoon. At school I have good teachers that help me to become a better person. Currently we live in Usme neighborhood, a place located in southern Bogota. Usme has a lot of problems related to drugs, alcoholism, gangs, between others. However, I have good friends and get along with my neighbors very well. On my spare time I like to play soccer and help my mother with chores. My dream is to finish high school and go to college to get a degree in psychology. I want to be a psychologist and help children. I like this career because I have qualities that fit this profession. One of these qualities is that I like to listen to people. I like giving advice to others so they do n...
Tatiana Quezada
$350 of $350 donated
Santander, Colombia
My name is Tatiana. I am 16 years old. I live in Girón with my parents, two brothers and two sisters. We lost our home several years ago due to a flood. Right now we are living in a provisional home provided by the government. The place where we live does not have access roads; there are community laundry sinks, community bathrooms and community recreational spaces. The supply of water and electricity is provisional. The families that were affected by the flood and lost their homes were relocated to a different area while the government builds new homes in a safe area. Right now the government is visiting the families affected by the flood to give them their new home. Since my parents work most of the time and my brothers and sisters study during the day, I decided to validate so I can stay home to receive the visit from the government. I study every Sunday from 7 -1 p.m. Since I am validating, I can finish one grade in a 6 month period. This means I will finish 9th grade in June a...
Laura Vanessa
$0 of $350 donated
Norte y Gütierrez, Colombia
My name is Laura Vanessa. I was born in a small town called El Cocuy, on November 13, 1996, at 1:15 a.m. I am 11 years old. My mother’s name is Nydia Arleny and my father’s is Jairo Andrés. I have one younger sister and one younger brother. Their names are Angelica Paola and Jairo. My father works as a truck driver. My mother stays home and takes care of us. We live in a rented apartment. My father is gone most of the time because he travels a lot. It is part of his job. My family has financial difficulties because the only income we have is from my dad’s job. School expenses and food cost the most. We do not own a house yet because my parents are paying for our education and can not afford to get a house. My mother does not have a job because the town where we live is very small and the jobs available are already taken. I am on 7th grade. I attend the Urbana Mixta School. My younger sister and brother also attend the same school. They are in 3rd and 2nd grade. In my spare ti...
Carlos Alberto
$50 of $350 donated
Bogota, Colombia
Carlos Alberto is 13 years old. His family is made up of five members: his mother, his three sisters and himself. His father was killed when he was 5 years old and since then his mother is responsible for the sustainability of the family. The house where he lives belonged to his grandfather. Although his family does not have to pay rent, utilities are usually very expensive. Janeth, his mother, does not have a full time job. Factors such as age, lack of education and high unemployment rates make it difficult for her to get the job she needs. Since there are not many job opportunities for her, she works two or three days during the week, usually cleaning families’ houses. The family’s income comes from the work Janeth is able to do daily. Usually she gets USD $70 dollars per week, but only when she can work most week days. This amount is not enough to cover expenses such utilities, food, clothing, transportation, health and school. Carlos Alberto and two of his sisters are curren...
Cristian David
$20 of $350 donated
Bogota, Colombia
Cristian David is 22 years old. His family is made up of four members, his mother, his father, his older sister and himself. Christian David’s first months of living were normal; however, before he learned how to speak and walk he was diagnosed with autism. Before he was diagnosed his family realized he did not follow rules very well, did not like changes and was not comfortable around people other than his family. When Christian David was diagnosed with autism the lives of his family changed forever. Even though medical doctors and health care professionals told Christian David’s family that he wouldn't be able to read and write, he did. He also takes showers, dresses himself and even learned to ride a bicycle. Since Cristian David was diagnosed with autism he has been taking medication and receives psychological, language and occupational therapies. When he became a teenager he started to have epilepsy attacks. Because of his special diagnosis his family spends a lot of mo...
Cristian Camilo
$0 of $350 donated
Bogota, Colombia
Cristian Camilo is 11 years old. His family is made up of his mother and himself. His father abandoned his mother before he was born so his mother has to work to sustain the family. Cristian Camilo lives in his grandmother’s house because his mother does not own one. Eight other people live in the house where he lives. The family’s income comes from selling crackers on the street, a job his mother does daily two hours away from home. His mother sells approximately USD $7 dollars every day and with that money she pays for food, clothing, utilities, and health and school expenses. Not having a full time job is a real challenge for Cristian Camilo’s mother because there are days when she does not sell anything and still has to cover expenses that cannot be postponed. Cristian Camilo likes to go to school; he is one of the smartest students in his class. His favorite subjects are science, physical education, math and religion. He dreams of becoming a doctor, an accountant or a pil...
Daniel Alejandro
$50 of $350 donated
Bogota, Colombia
Daniel Alejandro is 7 years old. He lives in a rented apartment with his mother, his grandparents and three uncles. His mother and his grandparents have taken care of him since he was little. His father does not live with him and does not support him financially. Daniel Alejandro’s mother has a full time job in a clothing store and the money she earns – about USD $350 dollars monthly- is used to sustain Daniel Alejandro’s grandparents and to pay for all the house expenses. Although Daniel Alejandro studies in a government school and does not have to pay tuition and room and board, his mother struggles to provide for his school supplies, uniforms, Internet and others. Daniel Alejandro is in 3rd grade and really enjoys his physical education and English classes. His academic records have been recognized by the school. He dreams of becoming a civil engineer because he wants to build a house for his mother.
Jhennifer Stefania
$0 of $350 donated
Tunja, Colombia
Jhennifer Stefania is a very active, loving and caring girl. One thing she likes the most in life is music. Her family is made up of her mother, father and two brothers. Both her parents are teachers, however, right now both of them are unemployed because they had a contract for one year teaching at one of the State’s schools but the contract expired and was not renewed. Both of Jhennifer’s parents have been unemployed since the month of June 2010 which has become the greatest difficulty for the family because they have to pay rent for the house where they live and also pay for school, health and food expenses. Jhennifer’s parents are very concerned about not being able to continue giving education to their children because of financial difficulties but hope that soon they can find a job. Jhennifer Stefania is in 6th grade. Her favorite subjects are music, physical education and art. She wants to become a veterinarian and also a singer. Once her parents get a job she will take...
Yessica Alejandra
$0 of $350 donated
Bogota, Colombia
Yessica Alejandra is 11 years old. She lives in southern Bogota with her parents and her older sister. The family’s income comes from her father who works in an auto repair shop. Her mother has not been able to find a job, so she stays at home and takes care of the family and the house. Yessica’s family lives in a rented house where other families live as well. The neighborhood where the house is located is one of the most dangerous neighborhoods of the city because of the presence of gangs. However, her family cannot afford to live in a different place because rent is more expensive and they cannot buy a house because the family’s income is not enough to ensure to the banks that the mortgage of a house will be paid back without problem. Not having enough money to pay expenses and not having a safe and comfortable place to live is the greatest challenge of her family. Yessica Alejandra is in 6th grade and her favorite subjects are science and physical education. She has always...
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