Yolanda tiene quince años y estudia octavo grado en el colegio. Su hermana, Yohana, estudia séptimo, y su hermanito, Jesús Antonio, estudia primer grado. Yolanda también tiene otro hermano, Brayan, pero estudia en la escuela pública. Los hermanos viven con su mamá, una viuda, a unos veinte minutos caminando del colegio. Su papá falleció del alcoholismo cuando Yolanda tenía siete años.
Las materias favoritas de Yolanda son matemáticas y ciencias. Cuando sea grande, quiere estudiar medicina. En su tiempo libre, a Yolanda le gusta leer y jugar fútbol. Sus comidas favoritas son pupusas y pizza. El año pasado, Yolanda repitió séptimo grado, pero sus profesores han notado que hoy es mucho más aplicada.
Yolanda 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.

Yolanda is fifteen years old and attends eighth grade at PNARDS. Her younger sister, Yohana, is in seventh grade here and her youngest brother, Jesús Antonio, goes to first grade, too. Yolanda 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 Yolanda was seven years old.
Yolanda’s favorite subjects are math and science. When she grows up, she wants to study medicine. Yolanda likes to read in her free time and also play soccer. Her favorite foods are pupusas and pizza. Yolanda repeated seventh grade last year, but her teachers have noted that she is doing much better.
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.