Last Sunday I met with some of the first children who entered the Portal de Belen program back in 1998. When they began the program in 1998 they were just 3 and 4 years old. I wish I had pictures of them then to compare with these young adolescents now. In the pictures that I took last Sunday they are now 15,14, and 13 yrs old. Not all of our first student could attend our gathering as some were participating in a program at the High School that took place at the same time.
14 and 15 year olds
As a side note, it is important to remember that one of the criteria for entering Portal is that the child must be from the poorest of the poor families in Monte Plata. My driver, Eddie, has children that are not eligible for the program as Eddie earns too much. When he is able to find work full time, his income is $400 a month.
What struck me was how bright, normal, healthy, engaging and engaged these young people now are. Nowhere in their current selves can be seen the marks of their poverty as children.
13 year olds
This is one of the principal goals of early childhood programming at Portal de Belen. Children are first enrolled between 18 months to 2 years old, a new group of 30 each year, and remain in the program for three years. We provide the children with healthy, balanced nutrition at an early age, and believe that this will help them to develop with healthy bodies, minds and attitudes, and to become contributing young adults.
Youth Group
This also the belief of the foundation.
What I can see today is how successful this program has been since I first met these children 11 yrs ago. These images of healthy, well-adjusted teenagers demonstrate the success of our philosophy.
Additionally, the sisters at El Portal de Belen meet regularly with the parents to train them in parenting and caring for their children, including the topic of hygiene. Keep in mind that in the DR water can be difficult to come by, for the poor especially.
some members of the folk choir
Most of these young people continue to be involved in their parish as members of the young group, as well as some missionaries to other young people their age, and a few sing in the folk choir of San Antonio de Padua, at their parish in Monte Plata.
misionarios
I congratulate the sisters at Portal de Belen for all they have accomplished so far, and I thank all of you who help support all the projects of the foundation!
Below are four progress photos of the construction of the new classrooms at Portal. The new classrooms will become the new home of programs for the mentally challenged and for preschool children.
The school, Santa Maria Josefa Rossello, opened in Don Juan in the fall of 2005 and the project in Hato Nuevo began in the spring of 2007. As the program at Portal de Belen started eleven years ago, we are able to record and share data on the history of programming there. As time progresses, I hope to share with you many more success stories from all three of our locations!
Que Dios siempre le bendiga
~P.Ron Gaesser
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