Paso a Paso Update to Friends of Colombia
Haroldo L. Suarez
President Magdalena Foundation, Inc.; Vice President, Fundehumac
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| Paso a Paso children with several MFI scholars who work with them at MFI awards ceremony in July 2006 |
The children in the program have made remarkable progress and MFI scholars have organized a few programs where they can participate. Children have visited the museum at the place where Simon Bolivar died and participated in the Childrens Week celebration which took place in the main square in front of the Mayors Office in June.
MFI students have had difficulties with a couple of families because parents are negligent, do not take care of their children and send them to school in dirty uniforms. Children have appeared abandoned, they lose their notebooks and books are torn. These items were replaced once but parents were told that the Foundation would work with other children if they did not cooperate in their education. One mother improved her conduct but the second family did not. In July, I accompanied Alba and two students to this household in Barrio San Pablo to inform them that we could not continue working with their three girls. They are: Diana, Saray and Keren Imbreth.
However, while working in the different schools where the children study, 21 children have been added to the different activities. Those extra children receive tutorial help and their parents seemed to have embraced this initiative. At the MFI scholarship award ceremony, the children sang and recited poems. This was a rather moving ceremony and their picture can be seen on the MFI web page under Scholarship Awards, July 2006.
The children who have visited the pediatrician (free services) have been found to be under-nourished and with ongoing health problems, such as worms, low growth and some have dental problems. A home survey conducted by Francisco Redondo, a medical student of MFI, found that their habitat is at fault for this situation. They do not have latrines and the family hygiene habits do not offer them a healthy environment. In the past, when the pediatrician gave them a prescription, parents came to the foundation to ask for money to buy the medicines. Very often, these children go to school without food and one girl suffers from headaches and dizziness when she engages in any physical activity.
Fundehumac will also discontinue working with Jorge, Ilder and Breiner Pertuz in Gaira because their mother does not take them to participate in any activity that may further their educational growth. She is unemployed and continues to neglect her children. Above developments should be considered as serious limitations to the healthy educational growth of these children and require an appropriate review of the future of Paso a Paso. Fundehumac proposes a selection of those children who have the best options to succeed because of their parental support, health profile and interest to study.
While Alba Lucia and all MFI students who work with the Paso a Paso program are deeply saddened with this reality, they realize that we do not have the resources to rescue these children from their household environment. Some parents believe that the Foundation should take complete responsibility for their children. At that point, it has become an awkward situation to try to help when MFI scholars do not feel they are making a contribution and may be resented by the parents. Additionally, these children do not have the benefit of participating in any out of school programs, because the parents do not cooperate. As these resources could be better invested in other children,
Fundehumac will try to make a better selection next year to ensure a positive and successful contribution. Conclusion. Four children will continue in the program next year and based on available resources, Fundehumac will incorporate other children from the extra 21 children. However, Fundehumac will continue to monitor and tutor as many children as it is possible and will advocate for public support with a couple of local institutions. For example, Alba has filed a letter with the Family Welfare Institute to provide breakfast and lunch for all these children with the support of a nutritionist. It is likely that the new director of this institute who is supportive of Fundehumacs work may help us to get a positive outcome.
ABOUT THE MAGDALENA FOUNDATION.
Three students finished their academic work in June and were replaced by 3 new students. Two of the graduated students are fully employed and helping their families. The third student cannot find a place to do his internship in auto mechanics to get his diploma. We expected 8 students to graduate in December but it appears that one university, where six of our graduating scholars attend, is trying to lengthen their program by at least one semester, and this will affect MFI plans to include 6 new students into the scholarship program.
The students who are affected by this change are organized under the leadership of Jorge Manjarrez, a MFI scholar. They plan to file a legal case with the courts, but will have to wait until the decision is announced officially. However, this case may not be resolved by the end of the year and this will impair our ability to help the prospective students who are working with Fundehumac and deserve a chance to go to college. Should the current graduating scholarship students need to continue one additional semester, there would be no funding available to add any new students as our fundraising efforts, at this time, are at about one scholarship less than the previous year.
This will be an unprecedented experience for the Magdalena Foundation, i.e., not bringing in any new students. If FOC members would consider raising the level of support, at least this year, we would be able to bring in a couple of new students. By the second semester we would then be able to offer scholarships to the other deserving four students and hopefully provide some additional funding for our students who are not studying locally. We would consider this to be a one time increase to get us through this peak period. Thereafter we would reduce the total number of students by two or three so that we can absorb additional costs due to increases in cost of living and tuition fees.
On behalf of the Board and the students of the Magdalena Foundation and the children of Paso a Paso, who you have helped in the past, through Fundehumac, we wish to thank you for all the support and interest you have shown in our programs and we will continue to strive to provide assistance to those most deserving youth in Magdalena. We are profoundly grateful for your support.