In the spirit of the season…

The spirit of the season is the spirit of giving..so give me some money.

Just kidding….

I mean, I do want money, but if you do give some it will not be going to me it will be going to help make one very special 15-year-old girl’s future a little brighter.

This is Erika.

She is sweet, kind, and a good friend of mine. She is responsible, intelligent, and has a great sense of humor. She proves to me day in and day out that she is wise beyond her years and can always put a smile on my face when I am feeling down.

Erika had a tough year this year. She started the year in 8th grade, but less than halfway through her family realized they could not afford to continue sending her. The daily transport cost is $1.00, in addition to books, uniform, and miscellaneous costs. Her brother was also attending school as a 7th grader this year. The family could not afford to send both children to school, so they had to choose. They chose to continue sending her brother so that Erika could stay in the house and help her mother with the cleaning. It is generally accepted that boys are more likely to need an education, and girls often take a back seat when it comes to academic opportunities. Erika is no exception.

But, Erika is exceptional. She is a wonderful, mature, young woman, and I want to help her realize her dream of becoming a police officer. She says it is what she wants to do because she wants a job where she can help others. El Salvador has a rather progressive police force, with whole classes of female officers graduating annually. In short, this is an attainable dream, with a little assistance.

I am asking for your help in sending this girl to school. She wants nothing more than to study and better her life, but because she is the female child in her family without your help she will not get that opportunity.

The cost of a year of school here is around $250. So, for less than $25 you can send this girl to school for an entire month.

During this season of giving, think about giving back to someone who really needs it. In these difficult economic times everyone had a tough year, but if you can give just a little, for Erika it will go a long way.

To donate:

Via secure PayPal:

Follow link: http://www.aidelsalvador.org/donate.php Click the DONATE button and follow the instructions

Be sure to indicate the community name (San Juan de Dios) in the “send message to seller” field.

Via check:

Send to: Peter Rennard 2688 Pala Mesa Court Costa Mesa, CA 92627

Be sure to indicate the community name (San Juan de Dios) in the “memo” section

Thank you for your consideration and Merry Christmas.

Lindsey Weeks

Peace Corps Volunteer

Cantón San Juan de Dios, Juayua, Sonsonate, El Salvador