Stories of Impact:
Meet The Yool Family
The Yool family has been a beloved part of the Educando Para La Vida family for the past 13 years. In 2007, Director Rodolfo noticed Álvaro, the oldest son, struggling to excel in the local elementary school. Underfunded and overcrowded in a low-income area, it was not uncommon for children from this particular elementary school to drop out of school before reaching the 6th grade. Álvaro was invited to participate in the Educando Para La Vida educational support program, and his younger siblings Román and Dorcas joined soon after.
Left-Right: Román, Luisa, Dorcas, Álvaro, Juan (father) - August 2020
While Álvaro was one of many children who joined the program at the time, Rodolfo soon found out that his family situation was even more challenging than some of the others. His mother, Luisa, married at 19 and had three children with a husband who began to struggle with alcohol and unemployment. Both parents only completed school up to the 6th grade. She worked multiple jobs (such as cleaning houses and tending to farm animals) to try and make ends meet while the father became increasingly absent, but continuously struggled to afford basic necessities. For eight years, they lived in a single-room, sheet metal house.
Román proudly showing us his house in 2014
Román, the younger brother who routinely lit up any room he walked into with his relentlessly cheerful personality, also struggled with physical and mental disabilities. His bones broke often, and medical bills could not always be addressed.
We met this family on our first trip to Zaragoza in 2014, and shared with Rodolfo in his dream to provide this family with the support that they needed. This inspired a team of passionate youth in Vancouver to spend the next year advocating and fundraising for this short-term project, and returning in 2015 to contribute to the construction of the family’s new brick home. While EDUPAVI’s regular focus is not to construct buildings, this event helped us establish an ongoing relationship with the Yool family, and is an example of the importance of dignified living in the pursuit of a better future.
2015
Dorcas, aged 6
Valentín and Natanael, long-time members of the EPV family, pitching in to help build the house.
The 2015 team!
Roman exploring his future house
The Presentation Ceremony with Director Rodolfo and our team
A Chat with Luisa!
How do you currently make a living?
I go to work everyday, cleaning houses. My other source of income comes from taking care of farm animals, such as horses, goats, ducks, turkeys, geese, hens and roosters. I make about Q800 [$130 CAD] per month. Sometimes I help in the butchery, which requires me to go to work at 3:00am, but I can get up to Q1000 [$170 CAD] per month. My husband does odd jobs here and there but does not have a fixed income.
How are your children doing?
Álvaro is now 20 years old, and has his own family. He works as a bus assistant. Román is 19, and has completed 7th grade. He helps people in the market from 6:00am-2:00pm, who pay him Q1.00 - 5.00 ($0.17 - $0.85 CAD), depending on the errand they are asking him to do. Dorcas is now 12 years old, and is currently in the 6th grade. Thanks to the support she receives, she consistently places at the top of her class.
How has your family been during this time of the pandemic?
By the grace of God, we are stable. Economically, we have not been that affected because thanks to God, I still have my work. We try not to leave the house if not necessary, and ask God to protect us. Dorcas is usually in the house alone, or she goes to the house of one of her aunts that lives nearby to play with her cousins and watch TV. She is continuing in her studies thanks to the distant learning program.
How has this program been a blessing to your family?
They have helped my children in their studies, taught them to respect God and their elders, and gave them the opportunity to go on educational trips. We receive groceries when we need them, and have also had the opportunity to know and share with people from other countries. We were also blessed with the construction of our brick house, an equipped kitchen, and the provision of dining room furniture. I am thankful to all the people who helped, and also to God for allowing us to live a better life.
How can you take part in this story?
Become a monthly sponsor today and provide direct support to the Yool family, as well as many other families who live in marginalized communities.
