Project M:25 is located in San Fernando, a small rural community, where going to college is not usually part of the plan. After finishing high school, most kids will get a job collecting money on buses, or will start a family. Without a college degree, most young people in Ecuador will find a job that will pay them as little as $5 per day, which is roughly $150 a month. Ecuador’s labor market favors those who have a university degree and pays little to those who are considered non-skilled.
Opportunities for kids to get better paid jobs and break the cycle of poverty seems like a distant dream because of parents’ mentality and financial situation. Parents tell their children to get a job instead of pursuing education because education is often expensive and they cannot afford to send a kid to college. Most parents in our community did not complete school and have informal, low-pay jobs that do not provide enough to support their families.
Three years ago, Teens Club was born. It is a program for children who completed Kids Club and want to stay engaged with Project M:25 through mentoring and spiritual development. The program supports adolescents and their identity formation process by providing them with tools to think about their future and see many opportunities to succeed.
This year, Deisy, Pakarina, and Karen finished high school and are ready to take on the world. It has not been easy for them, but they have received constant guidance from Keren and Estalin, Project M:25 staff and spiritual coordinators. They have also been encouraged by their Amigos, sponsors like you, who have faithfully committed to transform their lives.
Deysi has been attending Project M:25 for 8 years. She dreams of joining the army and has worked very hard for this. We just learned that she passed all the tests so she will be joining the army in the fall. Pakarina has been with us for 10 years. She is the oldest of 6 siblings and dreams of becoming a lawyer and helping others in need. She is currently working until she finds an opportunity to study and fulfill her dreams. Karen has been attending Project M:25 for 10 years. She dreams of seeing the world, so she wants to study tourism or become a flight attendant.
Thank you for praying as these four young ladies are ready to make their dreams come true. Thanks to your faithful partnership, these girls are now examples of perseverance for their families and community. They are breaking the poverty cycle through education.