Yohana tiene trece años y estudia séptimo grado en el colegio. Su hermana mayor, Yolanda, estudia octavo y su hermano menor, Jesús, estudia primer grado. Yohana también tiene otro hermano, Brayan, pero estudia en la escuela pública. Los hermanos viven con su mamá a unos veinte minutos caminando del colegio. Su papá falleció del alcoholismo cuando Yohana tenía cinco años.
Este es el primer año que Yohana estudia en el colegio, aunque ya ha asistido a varios cursos de inglés. A ella le gusta estudiar y su materia favorita es el inglés. Cuando sea grande, quiere ser doctora. Su comida favorita es Pollo Campero (pollo frito). Lo que más le gusta Yohana del colegio es que ya ha hecho amigas aquí.
Yohana vive en un ambiente muy pobre. Su familia no tiene luz eléctrica, ni agua, ni un baño. Esto lo hace difícil para que haga sus tareas. Una vez empieza la época lluviosa, la casa se llena de lodo. A veces su mamá lava ropa, pero la familia practicamente sobrevive de las donaciones de la gente de este pueblo. Este año, la familia está un poquito mejor, porque Brayan trabaja vendiendo pan en la mañana. Jesús también ha estado trabajando en un corral cercano para tener dinero para su refrigerio.
Los tres hermanos reciben una beca entera, libros, materiales, y uniformes de parte del colegio. Esperamos que la educación que reciben significa una vida mejor en el futuro para ellos y su mamá.

Yohana is thirteen years old and attends seventh grade at PNARDS. Her older sister, Yolanda, is in eighth grade here and youngest brother, Jesús, goes to first grade, too. Yohana also has a brother in the public school, Brayan. All four children live with their mother, a widow, about 25 minutes’ walk from the school. Her father passed away from alcoholism when Yohana was five years old.
This is Yohana’s first full year at PNARDS, although she has come to several English courses here. She likes studying and her favorite subject is English. When she grows up, she wants to be a doctor. Yohana’s favorite food is Pollo Campero (fried chicken). Her favorite part of coming to school is that she’s already made some friends here.
Jesús lives in a very poor environment. His family does not have electricity, running water, or a bathroom. This environment makes it difficult for Jesús to do his homework. Once rainy season starts, their house is often muddy. Sometimes his mother can find work washing clothes, but their family mainly survives on donations of food and clothing from the people of Agua Caliente. This year the family is doing a little better economically, because Brayan goes to school in the afternoon so that he can sell fresh-baked bread in the morning and Jesús has been doing chores in a corral nearby so he can have spending money for his snack at school.
All three siblings receive full tuition, as well as books, school supplies, and uniforms from PNARDS. Hopefully, the education that they receive here will enable them to help their mother and siblings have a better life in the future.

Pictured here at Jesús’ kindergarten graduation: Yolanda, their mother Lucía, a classmate of Jesús, Fr. Rafael, Brayan, Jesús, and Yohana.

En la graduación de Jesús: Yolanda, su mamá, Lucía, una compañera de Jesús, P. Rafael, Brayan, Jesús, y Yohana.