Dear Friends and Family,
We hope this message finds you well. This year, Mentor a Mentor partnered with two talented videographers in Mexico and Colombia to capture the essence of our programs through the voices of students, instructors, and local partner nonprofits. This experience has allowed us to listen to the people we serve and witness our impact firsthand. Although our video project is still in progress, we are excited to share some highlights and examples of our work from the interviews we conducted.
Spotlight on Floridablanca, Colombia
One of our impactful stories comes from Floridablanca, Colombia, specifically from the vulnerable neighborhood of La Paz. In Colombia, neighborhoods are classified on a scale from one to six, with one being the lowest socioeconomic status and six the highest. La Paz, ranked at two, is home to over 4,000 residents, including many displaced Colombians from rural areas and Venezuelans fleeing political turmoil. This neighborhood faces significant challenges, including flooding and landslides due to unregulated construction. High rates of drug abuse create instability and insecurity, often luring preadolescents and adolescents into a cycle of drug trafficking, addiction and violence.
We are proud to partner with a local nonprofit, Fundacion Niños de Paz, who has been working in this neighborhood for over 15 years. We support their ministry by offering weekly robotics classes to 17 preadolescents and adolescents. One of our students, Danna, has consistently attended every class. During her interview for our video project, she shared her thoughts:
"I really enjoy the Robotics class because it teaches us how to build robots and make them move. Our teacher, Carlos, is a wonderful person. Robotics is important because many inventions started as robots before evolving into what they are today. I've been thinking a lot about becoming an engineer. In robotics class, I’ve learned to take my time and be patient so that my projects turn out well."
Please keep Danna and her fellow robotics students in your prayers, along with Carlos, their dedicated teacher and mentor, who imparts valuable skills and values while also praying with the students each week.
Highlight from Casa Hogar Adonai
Another inspiring example of our impact can be found in our Mentorship program in Chihuahua, Mexico. Located in a northern border state, Chihuahua faces challenges such as drug trafficking, addiction, violence and a high influx of immigrants. Since 2016, Mentor a Mentor has proudly partnered with a long-standing Christian Orphanage, Casa Hogar Adonai.
During our interviews, Luis and Cecilia, the founders of the orphanage, shared their appreciation for our mentor Gabriel and his influence on the students:
"Gabriel has been very positive. He engages with the students, especially the younger ones who aspire to be like him—dynamic, athletic, and interactive. They see him as a role model. We've noticed that when the older students have questions, they approach Gabriel, who spends an hour or more talking with them, giving advice and providing motivation. This encouragement helps propel them forward."
For over eight years, Gabriel has been teaching the martial art of Capoeira to the children at Casa Hogar Adonai. We are grateful that our programs are sustainable due to our commitment to hiring local instructors from the same regions as our students, offering fair wages, and ensuring that our programs continue to thrive. Gabriel has become an invaluable role model for these orphaned children.
Please keep Luis and Cecilia in your prayers, asking that God meets all their needs at the orphanage. Pray for the students and the entire Casa Hogar Adonai community, as well as for Gabriel, that they may continue to thrive in a nurturing and supportive environment.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our supporters who pray for Mentor a Mentor and contribute financially to our programs. Your support is instrumental in expanding our impact and enabling us to share more stories like Danna's and Gabriel's.
If you would like to support our cause further, please consider praying for us, making a financial contribution, or sharing this email with friends or family members who may also want to support our mission.
Blessings to you,
Javier, Rebecca, and Cara
Mentor a Mentor Team
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