Wanda texted our team this week, letting us know that Haly was moving away. Rising rents forced her family out of our neighborhood. Immediately, I thought about how confidently she walked into our program last week and gave me a fist bump.
Spanish was her first language, so that’s all she spoke. She would only speak to you if spoken to. This made me feel inspired to help her learn English so there weren’t any issues with the language barrier and to make sure she understood her surroundings in school.
I started to notice a change in the fall of 2023 when she began to speak more, and to use English more often. Haly is now a 2nd grader, very intelligent and advanced in her studies. She’s social with anybody and loves to help others no matter what.
Loving vulnerable children like Haly gives us so much joy. We welcomed her in, surrounded her with healthy community, gave her care that matched her needs, and celebrated her growth. We feel sad to see her go, but we know that she'll carry her years at Presencia with her for the rest of her life.
While Joselyn provided the direct care, it took a big community to create the space where Haly grew and thrived. Donors supported the work so we could pay our staff and keep our doors open. Our diverse and wise board guided the work to make sure it was healthy. Volunteers cooked meals for Haly, washed her dishes after she finished eating, and sat with her to help with homework.
If you were part of the community that made this happen, thank you! If you want to be, we are looking for partners who will help sustain and grow our work in the coming years.
Have a hopeful Friday!
Ian North
Co-founder, Development Director