Good morning, everyone,
This week we’ll be focusing on the background stories of three of our most mature and responsible students, who have all recently become employed by the Joan Rose Foundation. With their help, we are making progress towards becoming a self-sustainable foundation.
Yobany started his employment with us in October 2013. He is 17 and the oldest child of 9. In early 2010 David was living in Santiago where he met Yobany, neglected and underfed, and soon took him and his brother under his wing, providing food and a place to sleep. When David returned to the US to fundraise that year, Yobany and his younger brother spent three months sleeping in abandoned trucks and houses. David relocated to Esperanza for the foundation in January 2011, and Yobany and his brother went with him. They knew more opportunity would be found there. (They still visit their family a few times a year.) Yobany has now lived on his own since he was 16 and is highly independent and mature. If there is one word to describe his personality, it is simply “cool.” He once responded to why girls liked him with a completely straight face, “They just like my form of being.” He is calm and good-mannered and has grown to be mature, respectful, reasonable, and hard-working. His passions are learning English and looking stylish, and he often talks about moving to the beaches one day to get a job in tourism. Although Yobany started out as our doorman helping the kids safely cross the street as they came and went, his position has evolved and he’s slowly taken on more duties. He now supervises our busy activity room, helps maintain a safe and fair environment, and completes various tasks as we need them. He is an excellent role model for the other boys, and even inspired Boloko, our other young male employee, to start helping out.
Boloko is also 17 and began working with us just this year in February. Boloko is like a big kid. He is always laughing, loves to play sports and games, and is buddies with many small children at the foundation. Some of his greatest admirers are young girls, and when you can spot him hanging out with one of them, it’s totally heart-warming. Boloko has a bit less responsibility than Yobany, but is also expected to help maintain a safe and friendly space. Boloko has been with the foundation since the beginning and has made a lot of progress. He was once fighting other boys and receiving suspensions on a regular basis for his behavior. Academically, he knew absolutely nothing, not even how to hold a pencil. His confidence was low, but since he became our dedicated student, he’s gained confidence little by little. Now, he loves class. He feels a lot of pride after completing an assignment and will be seen beaming more than anyone. He works hard and is cooperative both in and outside of the classroom. Although he still has some maturing and learning to do, he’s come a long way, and we are more than pleased with his work and the person he’s become.
Our third newest employee is our impressive young woman, Yanira. Yanira is 15 and has also been with the foundation since the beginning. Her mother has been employed full time with the foundation since late 2012. Yanira is honest, wise, responsible, and loving. We decided we wanted to have her start tutoring class just this past month. Yanira is known for hanging out with the 4 and 5 year olds more than kids her own age. She loves to cuddle and hug and kiss the little kids and serves as a role model and friend to them. She now tutors math and reading to one 6 year-old boy who is behind in school. When we announced that she’d be tutoring him, the other boys in the class yelled out and giggled, “What about me?!” Yanira is kind to everyone and makes her rounds daily asking about people’s day. Anyone who knows Yanira would be shocked to know that she hasn’t always been this way. Upon entering the foundation, Yanira was a gossip and drama queen. She was often unpleasant to be around because she seemed to look for problems. She somehow transformed and learned how to practice being her best self and is now one of our most trusted foundation attendees.
So much can be said on each of these individuals, but clearly all three of them have made such significant progress that we trust them to help us make the foundation an even better place. We have seen the inspiration that the three of them have provided for the other kids. One example being that we now have several older boys who try for the respect and responsibility and privileges that Yobany and Boloko have earned. And frankly, we like being able to bring it up when they’re acting less than acceptable. These three outstanding students are a beginning to what we hope for the future of the JRF- stability, people we can trust, and role models that our kids can look up to and aspire to be.
Thank you all for your continuous support. We wouldn’t be here without you.
