Education for Juana Espinoza’s Children
(Rancho Ojo de Agua Colorado)

The World Health Organization and other prominent international organizations recognize that the education of girls is imperative for population reduction and stabilization. Educated women have small families because they have career opportunities outside of the home. Juana Espinoza lives with her six youngest children and disabled husband in a deteriorating adobe hut about 45 minutes from the town of Cuquio. She wants more than anything for her children remaining at home to become educated. In the Mexican countryside, girls typically live with their families until they are young teenagers. Without educational or job opportunities, they marry young and then begin a life of motherhood and repeated pregnancies. In the impoverished conditions in which Juana’s children live, boys typically leave the family and emigrate to the U.S. in an effort to locate work to support the family.

Juana and each of her children want a different life for the family. All of the children want an education in order to break the cycle of poverty. However, education for impoverished villagers is considered a luxury. The Center for Farmworker Families has collected donations for the past four years in order to ensure that these children have the opportunity to pursue an education. All six children have successfully completed the preceding four grades in school, some with honors. An elementary and junior high school is located within walking distance of the village. A local high school is located about an hour’s bus ride from the village.

These children are truly remarkable! To successfully complete four years of education while living in conditions of extreme poverty is extraordinary. This year, each child would like a yearly sponsor and, if possible, an opportunity to connect/ write/ communicate with the sponsor via phone calls, letters, email, etc. about their progress in school. All six children have a dream, to attend a university, either in Mexico or in the United States. Please consider sponsoring one or more of Juana’s children this year, and supporting them in making their dreams a reality.

Maria Francisca Franco Espinoza
We first met Maria Francisca when she returned home after a day of pepenando maíz (collecting left over corn) for the family. After land owning corn growers harvest their crop, invariably there are some corn cobs left behind. Impoverished children are then sent to scour the fields for any cobs with corn that might provide their families a meal.

Though tired and dirty from a day in the fields, she spoke of her interest in continuing her education. She successfully completed elementary school, and now wanted to move on to junior high and high school. Juana had told her that funds were not available for her education.

We promised continued support. The next day I met with two of her teachers at the local elementary school. They informed me that she is exceptionally intelligent and had encouraged her to continue her education.

Maria Francisca is successfully completing her senior year in high school. She has maintained an 8.7 grade point average on a scale of 10 throughout her high school years. She will be ready to enter the University of Guadalajara in Fall 2010. We are all so proud of her!

To become Maria's sponsor for the year, click here.

Ramona Franco Espinoza
Ramona is in her third year of junior high school. Her long range career goal is to become an attorney. Juana claims that she has a strong intuitive sense at the age of 16 of what is just and what is unjust. She would like to work with this intuitive ability and make a career for herself as an attorney. She has a bubbly personality that delights in visits from friends and family to her village. In addition, she loves pets and all the many forms of native animals that live in her village neighborhood. Total educational expenses for the year are $100.

To become Ramona's sponsor for the year, click here.

Valentín Franco Espinoza
Fourteen year old Valentín dropped out of school for a year to earn money for the family and to complete some of his teen rebellion tendencies. However, he is now back in school and appears to have developed a keen sense of how important the opportunity to progress in education can be for him and his family. He is currently enrolled in his first year of junior high school. He is a passionate, energetic young teenager with a twinkle in his eye. He is highly intelligent, and Juana tells me that he can be humorously mischievous at times. Valentín loves anything mechanical, and enjoys spending hours fixing watches or other small mechanical devices. His teacher informed me that he loves to work at the computer that is available in his classroom. His dream is to become a medical doctor. Total educational expenses for the year are $100.

To become Valentín's sponsor for the year, click here.

Raquel Franco Espinoza
Raquel is 15 years old, and in spite of debilitating health problems, she has managed to excel in school for the past five years. Her career goal is to become a teacher. Her mother tells me that she loves to play with and care for the younger children in the village, and thus has real potential as a preschool teacher.

Over the past few years, we have noticed Raquel’s declining health. When we arrived in the village in August 2008, Raquel was listless and perilously thin with sunken cheeks. During the village piñata party, she remained reclined in a chair much of the time; unable to participate in the festivities.

We arranged for a visit to a local Cuquio doctor who ordered tests. After a night in the town hotel with Dr. López, Raquel learned that she had three types of intestinal parasitic infections including the dreaded amoeba (Entamoeba histolytica). In addition, she had an advanced bacterial bladder infection. Fortunately, when informed of her condition, a staff member at the International Humanities Center and staff from the Center for Farmworker Families, were able to purchase all of the required medicine to eliminate her infections.

Though her eyesight has been compromised over the past two years due to malnutrition caused by the infections and a poor diet, she continues to study and keep up with assignments. An updated prescription for glasses has been ordered. Her educational determination is a true testament to the human spirit and the capacity to overcome difficult obstacles! Total educational expenses for the year are $100.

To become Raquel's sponsor for the year, click here.

Eduardo Franco Espinoza
Eduardo is 9 years old and is in fifth grade at the local elementary school. Eduardo is 10 years old and in the sixth grade at a local elementary school where, according to his teacher, he is a good student. He is a typical rough-and-tumble boy with a fascination for cars, planes, trains and all other transportation devices. He also enjoys watching nature videos in the classroom. Eduardo says that he too, like his older brother, wants to become a doctor. Total educational expenses for the year are $100.

To become Eduardo's sponsor for the year, click here.

Mariana Franco Espinoza
Mariana is a delightful, beautiful 9-year old. When she sees us driving into her driveway, she immediately drops whatever activity she is involved in and, with eyes wide and a delighted expression on her face, she runs to greet us and give everyone a hug. Mariana is doing really great work in fourth grade according to her teacher, and she loves dolls. She spends hours walking through the village visiting friends, and Juana tells me that she loves and has a natural curiosity about the natural world in and surrounding her village. Mariana has not expressed an interest in a specific career at this stage of her life. However, she is absolutely clear that she wants to stay in school and continue to earn good grades! Total educational expenses for the year are $100.

To become Mariana's sponsor for the year, click here.

Maria Guadalupe Franco Ruiz
Maria Guadalupe (Lupe) is Juana’s granddaughter and a real gun-ho education kid. She loves to read, explore the natural world around her village and help her Mom care for her siblings. She is in fourth grade and doing A work. She is incredibly bright and is determined to see her education through a university education, even at her young age.

We’ll have a picture of Lupe on our website this summer.

To become Lupe’s sponsor for the year, click here.

Additional family photos:

Please donate generously so that we can continue this important work.

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