Hello everyone, and happy July. We hope you’re enjoying your summer, wherever you may be. It’s been a while since we’ve written, largely because we are so busy, but things are going well for all our students, and we’re excited to share some updates with you! As ever, please find more information on the individual pages for each student.

In Nepal:

Amrita is doing well in 12th grade. She’s studying at a science-focused “college” (11th and 12th grades are called college), with the hope of moving on to the university with a focus in pharmacy studies. She’s doing really well, and it’s just so hard to imagine this was the same little girl from a few years ago with a dirty face, longingly watching the school bus pass her by.

Kritisha is in 5th grade, and Sumira is in 7th grade. They are both doing well and Kritish especially is just blossoming by being in this better school, with a better education and new challenges.

Khusbu passed her 10th grade exam with a 3.55 GPA! She’s working on choosing a college with a hotel management focus for her next two years so that she can study business in the university. We are so proud of her! She really has overcome some very hard circumstances and grown into a lovely young woman.

Sumira and Kritisha

Khusbu’s 10th grade graduation portrait

Khusbu’s 10th grade graduation ceremony

Bharosha wants to study abroad for her university studies, both for personal reasons and because she wants to become more independent. She applied for nursing courses in Italy but unfortunately was not accepted to the nursing university. However, she was accepted at the University of Camerino in Italy to study Biotechnology and Biosciences. She is currently applying for a scholarship offered to students from developing countries like Nepal. Since she has had some free time, she has been doing some interning, helping out at the nursery school at her old school in Dhulikhel, and interning at the Dwarika Resort in Dhulikhel, specifically in the Food and Beverage Service department. She said she wanted to use the opportunity to gain practical skills like coffee making and customer service, which might help her if she needs to work while she is at the university.

In Tanzania:

Jeni Joseph sent us a copy of her research proposal for her diploma. It’s really impressive, and we’ve attached it on her page so you can read all about how libraries influence student learning outcomes. She’ll be finishing her diploma this December, and then hopes to go on for a bachelor’s in education.

In Nicaragua:

Seyla finished her first trimester in the university with really wonderful grades and she is working really hard to succeed.

In Guatemala:

Loyda is at her new school studying music production and she’s really loving it and doing quite well. She had surgery for a cyst on her foot and after recovery she is just thriving. We’re so glad that our contacts at Vida Digna were able to find this program for her, since it’s clear she loves studying and she loves music. She just needed to find the right venue. Thalia is in her new school and it has been a challenge for her. She’s faced some prejudices from some of the other students because of her deafness, but she’s persevering. We are going to go visit sometime this fall, and see how things are going. It’s hard going from a school specifically for the deaf to a “regular” school, where she has to have a sign-language interpreter, and it’s clear that some of the other students aren’t really very conscious of her challenges. We are hoping that she doesn’t get discouraged and we’re in touch with our contacts to see how and if we can help.

All of these young women are reminders for us that with a little support, a little love, and a little money to allow for the opportunities, children can usually succeed. These young women also remind us that hope is always a better emotion than despair; our girls give us hope every day and we are glad to be able to give them a little bit of hope as well. Thank you for being a part of their stories with your support and your love.

Birgit, Christa, Janeece, Leslie, and Meghan