a group of girls facing the camera with a thumbs up sign. Thye are in front of a school building with flowers around them
New girls arriving into our girls' school, Biga, Philippines

New Students

In the Philippines and Mexico, July and early August are busy times with the arrival of the newest grade 7 students. In The Philippines we have welcomed over 2000 new children desperately in need of our care; Biga Girlstown: 638 girls, Talisay Girlstown: 558 girls, Adlas Boystown: 489 boys, and Minglanilla: 362 boys. These new children are now in education and looking forward to a quality education and a life free from poverty thanks to our wonderful donors whose continued support makes this lifechanging work possible.

Community visits

In São Paulo and Mexico, the Sisters went out into the community to meet children in need of access to education and places at the São Paulo day care and Chalco Girlstown.

A group of girls in a classroom smiling with new bags on their laps
An older student hands a snack to one of the new boys
A woman sits at a laptop with a nun beside her talking to a young girl
A student sits opposite a recruiter who is reading a piece of paper listening to him talk.
Employer at Job Fair, Boys' School, Guadalajara, Mexico

Focusing on employment

Throughout July, the Sisters continued to focus on generating employment opportunities for the senior students. Over 32 companies attended jobs fairs held in Guadalajara Boys school, Mexico and Zona 6 Boys’ school, Guatemala in July. Helping our graduates to progress into stable, well paid work is a key part of the aims of our education programme. It is a priority for the work of the Sisters of Mary and vital to ensuring our children can escape poverty and help their families & communities.

Our students move onto a myriad of exciting careers that allow them to achieve their full potential and lead successful, productive lives, we have doctors, dentists, police officers, engineers, software programmers, solicitors, accountants, chefs and business entrepreneurs amongst our alumni and we are proud of all of their achievements.

 

A large group of students sitting and listening to a potential employer
Two students sitting at a table with potential employers. There is a banner behind them with the words "Star Patria" emblazoned on it
A student and potential employer talking to each other over a table
A student sitting on a chair listening intently to a potential employer also sitting on a chair
Four students standing listening to a woman speak
Two students sitting at a table with potential employers
a girl in school uniform shaking the hand of a man in a suit

Mexico Graduation

Coming to the end of their time with us at the Sisters of Mary school in July we were thrilled to celebrate the graduations of the senior students at the boys and girls’ schools in Mexico.

413 girls graduated from Chalco and 261 Boys from Guadalajara. Thanks to you, these boys and girls have the skills they need to find good relevant local employment and they will progress into the world of work or even find places at higher learning institutions to continue their learning  – or both.

We wish them enormous success in their future and are so proud of their hard work and their journey of transformation with us.

A group of adults with balloons and flowers
A student receiving her graduation certificate
A student getting a medal
A group of student son a stage holding graduation certificates
A group of girls standing outside waving
A boy signing paperwork while his mother & younger sibling watch
A group of boys walking
A group of boys smiling holding small gift bags
Two boys holding up new t shirts
Performers in mariachi outfits performing for an assembly of boys
A group of boys sitting in rows posing for the camera
A student receiving his graduation certificate
Students hugging parents with balloons
A group of girls in sports gear with their hands in the air celebrating

Sporting achievements

As usual, the younger children at the schools have been having fun, keeping busy and competitive in their sports and hobbies during July and here are some of the exciting sporting successes from our schools:

  • Chalco Girlstown (Mexico): Handball First Place at a national competition.
  • Zona 13 Girlstown (Guatemala): Futsal Team won 1st place and the Basketball Team came 3rd in the national Youth Tournament.
  • Zona 6 Boystown (Guatemala): Football team won the national Youth Tournament.
  • Amarateca Boystown (Honduras): 1st place for the Football, Basketball and Volleyball teams!
A group of girls in sports gear with medals and a trophy beside two nuns
A group of girls in basketball gear with medals and a trophy standing on some steps beside two nuns
A group of boys holding a trophy
A group of boys in sports gear with medals alongside two nuns
A group of girls in sports kit smiling with medals around their necks
Group of boys in sports gear posing with medals around their neck and holding a trophy in front of a goal
A group of boys outside in sports gear holding a trophy
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