Back

A Mother’s Determination In Santa Ana Necoxtla

Juanita is a single mother of six who makes and sells tortillas to support her family. Without a home of her own, she and her children turned to the local school, which not only provides educational support but also housing for students coming from difficult home situations.

In Santa Ana Necoxtla, Doña Juanita is a local emblem of strength in her community. A single mother of six, Juanita works hard every day making and selling tortillas to support her family. Without a home of her own, she and her children have lived with her parents, and all six children have stayed at the local albergue, a student housing facility that allows children from rural communities to access education that would otherwise be out of reach.

The Community’s Gift

Juanita is well known in the community for her kindness, hard work and generosity. In an act of love and respect from her community, local residents came together to donate land for her to one day build a house on. Her children, now either at the albergue, working or continuing their studies, are saving what they can to help build their mother a permanent home.

A Legacy of Opportunity

One of her elder sons is close to finishing his law degree, an achievement that proudly demonstrates the long-term impact of the albergue. For the teachers and staff, seeing a former student reach this professional milestone affirms that their work supporting and educating albergue students can help them to soar to great heights.

Related Stories

Image of hurricane damage

20 Years After Katrina: How Our First U.S. Response Shaped All Hands & Hearts

What It Was Like On the Ground Following Katrina When relief volunteers arrived in neighborhoods hit by Katrina, the scenes were staggering. Entire streets were engulfed in the stench of mold. Homes were ripped off their foundations and had floated several blocks from their original foundations. Cars and boats were scattered where the floodwaters had […]

Safe, Sustainable Classrooms for the Children of Catanduanes

We’re excited to share the launch of our new program on Catanduanes in the Philippines, where we’ll be rebuilding five safe and sustainable classrooms at Obi Integrated School. Alongside these new learning spaces, we’ll also restore toilets to provide students with clean, private facilities that safeguard their health and dignity, helping them focus on what […]

Building with Rainwater: A Major Milestone in Santa Ana Necoxtla

Our team has been working with focus and dedication to keep construction moving forward, bringing the children of Santa Ana Necoxtla closer to a safe and welcoming place to learn. Within just a few days, we successfully poured both the floor slab and the top beam, a milestone that highlights not only the physical progress […]