Scholars who lead by example!

These past 2 weeks I was "out of the office" as I traveled home for Thanksgiving.  While gone, Starfish scholars assumed leadership responsibilities to make sure our programming could continue.  Students each from the morning session and afternoon session were put in charge of snack, cleaning, attendance, behavior and keep tracking of the "estrellitas" or stars earned by each student.   Check out our new "Battle Star" rewards chart to see the different kinds of stars our scholars have earned for their excellent participation in our programs!

Pictured above is the Battle Star chart for Guasmo.  We are so proud of our scholars and their efforts!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Today on Thanksgiving 2 Starfish Scholars share what they are most thankful for - their studies!

Geovanny shows us how studious he is with his drawing, "Agradezco al estudio" - I am thankful for my studies!

Jerson is excited about his studies, "Viva el estudio, gracias por el estudio"  - Thanks for my studies!

Inspiring Messages from our Scholars!

Today 3 Starfish scholars have some important messages to share with us through their drawings!

Steve says "yes" to sports and "no" to drugs with his drawing of WWE fighters getting ready for a fight.  He also shares with us his love for learning English!

"Sí al deporte, no a las drogas"

Andrés reminds us the importance of always having good communication.

"Siempre comunicativo"

Anthony shows us his love for sports, especially soccer!

"Viva el deporte"

Thanks for helping me in the best moments of my life!

Today Starfish scholar Pamela shares with us her gratitude for being a Starfish scholar, as well as her hopes for the future!

Hola me llamo Pamela.  Me da gusto, alegría y emoción conocer a gente que le gusta ayudar a jóvenes, niños y adolescentes. No puedo explicar con palabras pero sí les digo que estoy agradecida por todo lo que han hecho con cada uno de los becados.  Yo cuando este en la Universidad, quiero trabajar como ustedes, ayudar y trabajar en alegria y armonia todo el trabajo y emoción de esta fundación.

Cada día que pase, estoy muy contenta.  Me alegro mas de la cuenta por que sé que hay personas que me quieren y me ayudan en los mejores momentos de mi vida.  Le digo lo que siento por Estrellitas del Mar.  Gracias x todo.  Gracias!   Att: Pamela Rodriguez


Hi my name is Pamela.  I'm happy, joyful and excited to know people like you who like to help young people, children and adolescents.  I can't explain it in words, but I can tell you that I am grateful for all you have done for each of the scholarship students.  When I am in college I want to do work like you all - I want to help and work with happiness and harmony just like all the work and excitement that is this foundation.

With each passing day, I am very happy.  It makes me even more happy because I know that there are people who love me and help me in the best moments of my life.  I'm just telling you want I feel for Starfish.  Thanks for everything.  Thank you! From, Pamela Rodriguez

Pamela, (above in white shirt), relaxing at the end of homework help with some of her Starfish friends!

Feliz Cumpleaños Isa!

Today is Starfish co-founder Beth's birthday! (Beth goes by Isa in Ecuador).  We hope you have a great birthday and thank you for your commitment to a brighter future for our Starfish scholars!!!

Maria, Taylor, Ashley, Steve and Jenn with their birthday cards!

Jenn and Anabel are Barcelona fans, but because it's her birthday we love Beth even though she's an Emelec fan!

Marlon, Jenn, Anabel and William with their birthday cards!

My backpack weighs more than I do!

Check out this video from an Ecuadorian television station about the crazy list of supplies many Ecuadorian schools require!  The "No-ticias" program from Gama TV is known for purposefully "mis-informing" and making parodies of the news.

This particular video is extremely relevant to Starfish as it makes fun of the lists of supplies that students in Ecuador are required to buy at the start of each school year.  I for one can attest that I was never required to buy half the amount of supplies for school that Ecuadorian students are required to buy...factor in the difference in average salaries and we are talking about an impossible amount of money for many families to afford.

I am learning this year that the best students who are elected leaders of their classes are often required to purchase things such as music speakers and other expensive things explained in this song.  Another interesting fact - students take regular public buses to school, meaning they also pay a bus fare as opposed to the yellow school buses most of us took through high school!

Starfish scholarships for 2012-2013 represent $216 worth of supplies, while an average monthly salary is about $280!  This parody is done to the tune of a popular song "Una vaina loca" (loosely translated - a crazy nuisance).  Translated lyrics below!

Que hago? Esta está caro                               

Seguro quiere estudiar mijo?                         

Una lista loca la que piden ahora                    

Yo no creo que un niño gaste todo esto en un año escolar

Piden calculadora y hasta computadora

Y mi guagua este año recien va para el prescolar.

What do I do?  This is expensive.

Are you sure you want to study son?

What a crazy list they require now.

I don't believe a kid will use all of this in one school year.

They require a calculator, and even a computer

And my kid is just going to preschool!

Para los ninos empiezen las clases

Y si no tienes plata que haces

En la escuala te sugieren donde tienes que comprar

Me pidieron 4 uniformes

para que no gaste ropa dice los rectores

terno y bano para un paseo que van a hacer.

School is starting for the kids

And if you don't have money, what do you do?

The school suggests when you should buy

They required 4 uniforms

"So you don't waste your clothes" said the directors

suit and bathing suit just for one field trip they're gonna take.

Una vaina la que piden ahora

tanto papel de color le alcanza hasta la Universidad

como 40 carpetas

frijol, fideos, lentejas

debe ser para arte porque lonche ya me hicieron pagar.

What a crazy nuisance they require

So much colored paper it'll last until college

Like 40 folders,

Beans, noodles and lentils

It must be for art class because they already made me pay for snack!

Oigame porque me piden la computadora

si mi hijo no sabe leer senora

eso le dije yo a la profesora

si no te gusta buscate otro colegio ahora.

Listen, why do you ask me for a computer

If my son can't even read miss?

I said this to the teacher

"Well if you don't like it, find yourself another school now"

La mochila esta full

pesa mas que me hijo el Raul

y ahora que hago hay que cancelar 3 meses de bus escolar.

The backpack is full, 

It weighs more than my son Raul

And now how am I going to pay for 3 months of the school bus?

Pura vaina loca la que piden ahora

y que al coca barriga el seguro debo comprar

ya quede chiro

prestame don Ramiro

que al medio ano seguro han de querer el aula pintar.

Such a crazy nuisance what they require now,

I'm already broke,

Lend me money Mr. Ramiro

Because halfway through the year I'm sure they're going to want to paint the classroom

Una vaca loca me pidieron ahora

para el dia de professor de donde el billete voy a sacar

que a una gringa loca contrataron ahora

es la teacher de ingles y un bono extra toca pagar.

Now they asked me for a crazy cow for teacher's day

where am I going to get this money?

Now they hired a crazy gringa

She's the English teacher and we have to pay an extra stipend!

Mi Colegio by Dayanna.

Dayanna shares with us a little bit about her high school and her experience as a Starfish scholar.

Yo me llamo Dayanna Zuñiga Salas.  Estudio en el Colegio Dr. Juan Modesto Carbo Noboa del curso 4/2.  Soy una señorita aplicada en mis estudios.  Yo con mis amigos (Espinoza, Maldonado, Davis, Yagual) somos muy aplicados.  Mi colegio es de 2 pisos y pide muchas cosas y cosas que son muy cara.  A veces no pido por el temor de perder la beca y despues digo yo mismo "no, si no pido saco 0" y me decido pedirlo.  Gracias por su ayuda!

My name is Dayanna Zuñiga Salas.  I study in the high school "Dr. Juan Modesto Carbo Noboa" and I am section 4/2.  I am a hard-working young lady.  My friends (Espinoza, Maldonado, Davis, Yagual) and I are very attentive to our studies.  My high school is 2 floors and asks for us to buy a lot of our own materials that are very expensive.  Sometimes I don't want to ask for so much because I don't want to lose my scholarship but then I tell myself "No, if I don't ask, I will get a 0" and I decide to ask for it.  Thanks for your help!

**Note** In many high schools, students in their last 3 years of high school are required to do internships and/or practicals for which they are required to supply their own, sometimes very expensive materials.  Dayanna has done practicals "prácticas" so far in accounting, mechanics and chemistry.  Without the help of her scholarship, she would be forced to sit out these classes and receive a 0 for the assignment as she has done in past years.

Dayanna (above, far left in jeans) with her Starfish friends at one of the monthly meetings.