Meet the Students: Parte Cuatro

To me, our three students this week have one big thing in common: their family values.  None of them come have what one might call a traditional family, but all of them are great examples of love and perseverance.  Evelyn is a returning scholar, after a one year absence from school and Starfish while she was pregnant with her daughter, Domenica.  Mirka was raised by a single mom with enough energy and love for to make up for it, and Julio was raised by his caring grandmother.  We are so proud of of the young adults they are all turning out to be! Here from them now in their own words, and see their smiling faces with their families: 

Evelyn

    

My name is Evelyn.  I was born on June 20^th, I am 18 years old.  I like music.  I have a beautiful daughter named Domenica.  I like to help my mom.  My favorite fruit is apples.  I want to be a secretary so that I can be successful and give my daughter a better future, to show her the good and not the bad.  I have the best parents who understand me.  First, I give thanks to God, and then to my parents because they are helping me out a lot, and I know that with their help I will get ahead and succeed.

Mirka

    

Hi my name is Mirka.  I am 16 years old and my birthday is September 3^rd.  I like to listen to all types of music.  My favorite colors are black, hot pink, white, purple and silver.  My favorite food is rice with baked chicken.  I like to be at Starfish because I learn things that I didn’t know before.  I am very happy because this year I’m going to graduate high school and continue my studies so that I can get a good job and help my family.  I am so thankful for everything that my mom has done for me, she has been my mother and my father and I have so much to thank her for.  I also thank the foundation that is now helping me this year.  

Julio

 

My name is Julio.  I am 16 years old.  My favorite colors are blue and black.  I go to “Transito Amaguaña” high school.  I am in 10^th grade.  My favorite subjects are math and science.  I don’t like English.  My favorite food is rice & chicken.  I like to listen to music and watch tv.

Part 5 of 8 of "Meet the Students" coming next week!

Ayudante Update from: Guasmo!

This week we get the chance to hear from our "Ayudantes" in Guasmo about the beginning of the school year there!

"During May and June, we set up a schedule with the parents to help us with snack.  So far, everyone has collaborated and the kids are satisfied with the snack they are given.

In the Starfish Foundation in Guasmo we have 2 groups:

Group 1: The students come Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.  In the morning we have 7th, 8th and 9th graders, and in the afternoon we have 10th, 11th and 12th grades.  In each group they do their homework, and during free time we do ice-breakers.  The new students and the old students get along very well, there's a lot of friendship and everyone helps each other.

Group 2: The students come Tuesday and Friday in the morning and they are in 6th and 7th grade.  They do their homework and during free time we do ice-breakers.  The new students and the old students get along very well, there's a lot of friendship and everyone helps each other.  They really like the ice-breakers and other activities, and they have a lot of ideas.

We also had a parents meeting to explain the new rules, values and snack system.

In the foundation, we also go on field trips, and one of those was the Integration Day when we spent a morning playing sports with the Scholars.

From,
Yuliana, Cynthia, Lissette, Betsabeth & Marcos"

Ayudante update from: Flor de Bastión!

Today our Employees or Program Leaders  (the "Ayudantes") share with us a beautiful reflection about the beginning of the school year at our Flor de Bastión site...stay tuned next week for the Guasmo updates!

"Hi!  Here we have a very friendly environment where some of our most important values include: respect, fellowship, humility and mutual cooperation between us and the students.

We have three groups during the week, and each one is different from the others. One of these groups is the group with the youngest students, which is also our most active group.  Then we have our morning group which is a little quieter and always gives a 100% effort in their work, and lastly the second afternoon group which is a little more challenging to work with - some are quiet and others talk a lot, but all have dreams and goals to achieve!

We as employees and leaders always try to be patient and also to get to know each student better.  We share our friendship and our knowledge with them.  Even so, there are some things we are still working to improve, and every day we strive to be better.  That's a little of what is going on at the foundation.

Peace,
Jessica, Tyrone, María, Cecilia, Kevin & Jasmin"

You might notice a new name on that list - Find out more about the newest addition to our Starfish team, Cecilia, over at our Employees page!

Meet the Students: Parte Tres

In this week's edition of Meet the Students - meet Joselyn, Briggitte and Dayana, 3 students from Flor de Bastión who all participated last year in our tutoring program!

Joselyn
  

My name is Joselyn.  I live in Flor de Bastión.  I study at “Batalla de Tarqui” high school.  I am in 9^th grade.  I am 15 years old.  I was born on November 16^th.  I like to listen to music – especially vallentato.  I like passion fruit.  My favorite food is lentils.  I don’t like fish.  I like to read and I like math.  When I’m older I want to be a police officer or join the Marines.  My favorite colors are electric blue and light green.

Briggitte
  

My name is Briggitte.  I go to “26 de Noviembre” high school.  I really like my school.  I was born September 18^th.  I have one sister with whom I share a lot of things.  This year I hope to keep up with my studies so that I can reach my goals.  In the future I want to be a police officer.  It’s my dream and I know I can achieve it with the help of God and of my parents.

Dayana

 

My name is Dayana.  I am 13 years old.  I go to “26 de Noviembre” high school.  My favorite colors are blue and pink.  I am in 7^th grade.  I like to study.  My favorite subject is math, but I don’t like social studies.  When I’m older I want to be a doctor or a teacher.  I hope to reach my dreams.  Even though I don’t have my dad, I will work even harder with my mom and my siblings.  My mom is also finishing her studies and I hope she can reach her dreams as well.  My favorite food is chicken and rice with soup.

Meet the Students: Parte Dos

Meet 3 of our new students in the Guasmo neighborhood: Nagelhi, Jamileth & Odalis!  This is the second part of a multi-part series on our new scholars.  They are pretty awesome and we thought you should know just how awesome they are!

Nagelhi

  

Nagelhi was a tutoring student last year, and earned her scholarship this year with her consistent attendance and positive attitude!  Her older brother Geovanny is a third-year Starfish Scholar.  Nagelhi writes, "My name is Nagelhi,  I am 13 years old.  I like to play soccer.  My favorite subject is Math because I like numbers.  My family is united and sometimes we play and laugh and do other fun things.  I have 3 siblings.  Their names are: Geovanny, Genesis and Jostin.  I like to play and have fun with them.  I like Starfish because they teach me a lot and I like when we play soccer and go on

Jamileth

     

Jamileth is new to Starfish this year.  Above she is pictured with her mom and sister.  Jamileth tells us, "My name is Jamileth.  My goals for this year are to get good grades and pass 7^th grade so that I can be successful."

Odalis

Odalis is also new to Starfish this year, but so far has been a great addition to afternoon group. The afternoon group has most of our older students, and she has fit right in and is always very respectful and a very hard worker.  Odalis writes, "Hi my name is Odalis.  I am 15 years old.  My goals for this year are to pass 10th grade and get better grades.  I like to listen to music while I study."

Stay tuned for the next part of "Meet the Students"!

Integration Day

This past weekend we had our first "Integration Day" of 2014, where our Scholars from both Guasmo and Flor de Bastión had the chance to recreate and converse during a day of fun-filled sun and sports!

2014-2015 Starfish Scholars

Switching it up from past Integration Days, we decided not to have either neighborhood host, but instead we took the kids to a local park, Parque Samanes.  Over a year ago, the government opened the first phase of what will be one of the 3 biggest parks in all of Latin America. We played soccer and basketball, and enjoyed using the exercise equipment.  

New Starfish Scholars had a blast getting to know each other, while our returning Scholars had a chance to catch up with old friends.  The best part - this park is free and we hope our students are able to go back soon with their families.  

Scholars Maria and Solange with Employees Lissette, Cynthia and Yuliana

Relaxing after a hot day in the sun!

Meet some of our new Scholars!

23 of our 41 Scholars are new this year - though most of them participated in our tutoring program last year.  And don't forget that some of them still need Sponsors. Even if you are not able to make a financial commitment at this time, you may still be able to participate as a pen pal!

We asked all of our students to write a short introduction for all of you.  Today we present to you Gema & Miguel, both new Scholarship students in Flor de Bastión.  Both participated in our tutoring program last year!

Gema

 

I am 14 years old.
What would you like to be when you grow up?
I would like to be a surgeon or I would also like to have a Beauty Salon and be able to live off what I earn.
Favorite Food
Pork Chops with Lentils and Rice
Hobbies
Draw, Paint, Play and do a lot of things
Favorite Pets
Dogs, Rabbits
Favorite Fruit
Strawberries, grapes, green mangoes

I study at Dolores Sucre High School . I am in 1er bachillerato (10th grade).  I have 2 brothers, with me we're 3.  I favorite color is bright blue.  My favorite dessert is Tres Leches and my favorite candy is Galak (chocolate).  My favorite subjects are Chemistry and Computer.

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My name is: Miguel.

   

I like music.  In my free time I play soccer.  Sometimes I like to watch horror movies, but most of the time I watch calmer movies.  I favorite subjects is Science.  I like to read the Bible.  I am getting ready to participate in my church groups.

On Mondays when we go to school I have to wear a special formal uniform.  I study at Maritza Thalia High School.  I have 4 siblings.  When I grow up I want to be a veterinarian.  My favorite food is rice with lentils and meat.  My favorite fruits are apples, pears, raspberries and watermelon.