Jackieinpdx's Blog

A little over a year ago I joined a group of Isla Mujeres lovers in a program sponsoring high school students on Isla Mujeres. The program is to help offset the costs of going to high school; things like uniforms, books, internet access for homework, etc. The students have to maintain their grades or they are dropped from the program. The girl I got assigned is named Dennise. I received a brief email from her with some information about her and her family. Dennise’s hobby was watching TV. I knew that did not bode well.

I had planned to meet Denisse during my December Christmas trip to Isla. However due to my daughter’s medical emergency that trip was cut short after only two days. Upon returning home I emailed with the woman who was going to arrange the meeting between Dennise and I. Dennise decided to drop out of school after Christmas break because “vacation was fun”.

I received this email yesterday and now understand a bit more about why Dennise dropped out of school.

Jackie,
I don’t know if I ever got back to you with more information about Denisse, the student you sponsored who dropped out in January. I think she was actually in her 2nd month of pregnancy when she said she ‘preferred to watch tv’. It now makes sense to me! In any case, she has moved in with her boyfriend, who also had to quit school, so a double sadness there. He seems like a great young man, and wants to maintain the relationship and support the baby. This is the way things go – the girl moves in with the young man’s family when she gets pregnant, and they live as a married couple, and then several years later they actually get married – sometimes! In any case, Denisse should be having her baby in the next couple of months! You probably never met her, but she is a beautiful, friendly girl. Of course it is really sad that the cycle of poverty continues, but it is what they know, and girls that stay in school and get an education are the exception. We are trying to pick them for the scholarships, but of course it is hit and miss! Well, I thought you might like to know, in case you want to bring baby clothing the next time you go down! LOL

I still felt that sponsoring an Isla student was a worthwhile cause so I continued to deposit my monthly payments. A few months ago I was asked if I would be interested in sponsoring a young woman who was going to university in Merida. The cost to sponsor Alejandra would be $200 a month. I agreed to pick up half the cost and found two friends to join me in sponsoring Alejandra. Yeah! Thank you Wanda and Lisa! Alejandra’s mother makes a living and supports her family by selling pareos along the street to Playa Sol and Nautibeach Condos. $100 a month to me is no big deal to give to help Alejandra better her life. But I can only imagine how difficult it was for her mother to scrape together $200 a month on top of living expenses for herself and her other children. Alejandra wants to be a kindergarten teacher because she says “everyone needs to start school”.

If you would like to find out how sponsor an Isla student please email me.

Filed under: "Good causes", Isla Mujeres, Mexico | Tagged: Isla Mujeres, students |