Dear Friends and Sponsors,
Spring has finally sprung, and the students of Yashalum continue attending classes in their efforts to receive an education. A number of them are looking forward to both entering and graduating from university in June, making room for new students who will request scholarships in the fall.
The students of Yashalum do so much more than attend classes. As the photos show, they are responsible for doing their part to help Yashalum succeed by cultivating coffee and vegetables and by maintaining their residences.
Spring also brings some good news with regards to this past winter’s fundraising efforts in support of the girls’ residence. As you know, Ms. Mireille Hanna of Global Legacy Programs, offered Yashalum a $4,000 matching grant to assist with improvements at Casa Santa Maria. We are pleased and grateful to report that you generously donated over $8,000 towards this effort, meaning that we raised over $12,000! This amount of money will go a long way to help make some desperately needed improvements to the aging residence.
Finally, I’d like to include a photo of the current Yashalum Board of Directors, composed of parents of current students and recent graduates.
From left: Hector Manuel Mayo Lopez, Irma Silvia Ruiz Gutierrez, Yolanda del Carmen Diaz Jimenez, Vice President, Rolando Gutierrez Sanchez, President, Luvia Guadalupe Aguilar Penagos and Miguel Gomez Intzin, Secretary. Hector, Rolando and Livia, graduates and scholarship recipients, now serve in an advisory capacity.
As always, we are grateful for your generosity and support. As Fr. Loren used to say, we are in communion with the people of Yashalum to “ver” – see clearly the situation around us; “pensar” – reflect on what is needed to improve it; and “actear” – work to make it happen. Together, we make it happen!
In Gratitude,
THE STAFF AT MISSION TEACHING FOUNDATION
