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Proud 2009 graduates L-R Cruz
Delia, Estela, Thelma, Ofelia, Lupe, and Natividad. There was no graduation
in 2009 because of the flu epidemic. |
The Carichi
students are actually from a number of different pueblos but are all attending a
Catholic Junior High boarding school for girls in Carichi. This school
provides a safe, controlled atmosphere where
girls study with other, mostly Tarahumara, students from throughout the Sierra.
This is our fourth year helping students in Carichi, we’re especially proud of Victoria who graduated last year and is becoming a Catholic Sister.
Although we personally
are committed to helping only one or two girls, the
good sisters agreed to accept
other graduates from the boarding school in Cerocahui along with other girls who
were brought to them. Out of a total of 14 students only about half have
scholarships. The sisters are miracle workers but could certainly use help for
the remaining students. Tuition and boarding at the school is normally about $800 per year but we have made
special arrangements for the girls, thus, the scholarships are only $500 (if that is too much for one person, sponsorship can be divided amongst several individuals). The Hotel Paraiso del Oso
provides transportation to and from the school 6 times per year (a 7-hour drive).—Doug Rhodes.
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Cruz Mora
Quintero
Cruz is from Porochi
and is in her second year. She was recommended by the Sisters at the Cerocahui
primary school. She is 14 years old, has both parents and three siblings in her
home. Her grade average is 8.7.
Her older siblings have dropped out of school and are a little wild but
Cruz seems to be a lot calmer.
Her sister Esperanza was with us
three years ago but dropped from the program. Her father is a farmer, her mother cooks in the Porochi boarding school. |
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Rocia Yadira Salas Mora (Sponsored)
Shown here
with her Grandmother, Yadira, 15, is from Piedres
Verdes and in her third year. Both her parents are deceased, she lives with her grandparents who farm. Her grade average is 8.5. She lives in an area with little law and much abuse of young Tarahumara girls, especially those without a father to protect them.
We were touched when her grandmother, who had no money, gave us peaches
to help out with her transportation. Yadira is sponsored by Allan and
Karen of Vancouver, British Columbia. |
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Norma Beatriz
Carillo Ortega
At 14 years old,
Beatrice is
in her second year and from the Pueblo of Churo. She hopes that someone
will
help her with a scholarship so she can move forward to make something of my life
and also help my parents. Her father works on his ranch and does whatever odd jobs he can find, my mother is a housewife,
she has five siblings who also want to continue with their studies.
She writes: One day I hope
that I too can help others. There are many poor people who want to move ahead
but have no means to do it. With help, a little at a time, they can improve
their life with education.
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Josefina Corrales
Gomez (Sponsored)
Josefina,
16, is in her third year and has been selected by her school and members
of the Cuauhtemoc Tarahumara Rotary Club to represent them as queen in
the annual District Conference in Torreon Coahuila. She is a traditional Tarahumara girl who was
recommended by a Catholic
Sister who feared for her safety in the violent area where she lives. Joesfina had never
left her small ranchito prior to going to Carichic. Her primary school
was barely adequate, it that, and she began secondary far behind other
students but soon surpassed them because of her dedication and
determination to succeed. She has an 86% grade average and is planning
on continuing her education after graduation. She is sponsored by Barb
from British Columbia.
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Martha Salmeron Gutierrez (Sponsored)
Martha, 14, in
her second year lives in Huicorachi. She was recommended by her teacher and authorities in her pueblo. As one of the two best students in her
6th grade class, she went on the Rotary-sponsored coast trip last year. Recently, a Rotarian friend who had heard me talking of student problems asked what was wrong with Martha’s family, what was her story of abuse. With pleasure I told him that there was nothing wrong. She comes from an outstanding family, one that values education to the point where they had 3 children graduating from different schools this year. Her parents are leaders in their community. She is a quiet religious girl who goes to the community church daily to pray.
Martha is sponsored by the Lander, Wyoming, Rotary Interact Club. |
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Victoria
Castro Cienega
Victoria, or Vickie, 13, is from San Jose Pinal but is in a strange
situation that no one can figure out. her parents say she graduated from
6th grade but she has no proof and the records in Chihuahua only show
her finishing 4th grade. She is a bright girl who has grown personally
during her time in Carichic, they initially placed her in the first year
of junior high, then put her in fifth grade but she was way ahead of
other students. She is now doing well in 6th grade and the Sisters are
fighting for the state authorities to allow her to graduate from primary
this year.
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Ericka Pocare
Cabada
Ericka, 14 a
first year student, is from the
small ranchito of San Jose de Pinal, her father farms
and her mother works as a cook in the local elementary school. Ericka is in
the first year and, although bright, is from a
broken, essentially nonfunctional family and like her sister before her,
has a strong personality that sometimes manifests itself in behavior problems.
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