Say Yes to Women's Education of Oaxaca, Mexico.

                                                                                                              Santa Cruz Xitla, Miahuatlán de Porfirio Díaz

Oaxaca a 28 de Noviembre 2023

GUADALUPE MUSALEM FUND DONORS

 Hello, my name is Norma. I am from the community of Santa Cruz Xitla, located in the Sierra Sur. At present I am in my fifth semester as a grantee of the Guadalupe Musalem Fund.

With this letter I would like to thank you for supporting  you give the fund;

each donation means a lot to all of us.

We each have a distinct history, and come from different circumstances, but we value and yearn for what an education can provide us with,  the possibilities it can open up for us, and are united in our goal of continuing our studies.

Wherever you are, your donation reaches us. Perhaps you are not aware of the impact it has, but I would like to let you know that, in fact, you helping us reach our goals, you are helping us make our dreams come true.

I have three older brothers. And since I am the fourth child in our family, and the youngest, many of my relatives expected me to stay home and comply with the required role of the youngest child, with no other future than taking care of my family and procuring a husband.

When I finished elementary school, my father, who had migrated and been absent for many years, returned home. This marked a before and after in my life. I was aiming to enroll in junior high school, but he did not allow it, considering it worthless “since you will only get married and be a housewife”. In that instant, I felt my whole life crumble, realizing perhaps that would be my destiny.

I confided in my brother, and he accompanied me to enroll in school, going against my father’s expectations. I have always considered myself an excellent student, and this is evident in my good grades, not because I want to show off, simply because I believe in acting responsibly and demonstrating, day by day, that I can achieve what I set out to do.

I heard about the scholarship program through a friend who didn’t know my story,

but felt I complied with many of the requirements. And even though I had many doubts,

I went ahead and downloaded the application.

After sending it in, I felt a great uncertainty. It is hard to explain, but there was so much at stake.

I was accepted in the scholarship program and became a grantee. When I received the notification, I was helping my parents in the fields. As the phone rang, I knew what it was about since I had seen a publication on social media. I answered as serenely as I could.

And I remember I was asked “aren’t you excited?” I said I was; if only they knew I what a great effort I made to not jump up and down. I ran to my mother and told her everything.

A new life began for me then; no longer were there doubts about continuing on to high school because I could count on financial support and people who believed in my abilities. It was the stroke of confidence I needed in order to change my life. I met new people, widened my horizon, travelled by myself for the first time. Today I am not that child who had great self-doubt, I know my capabilities and I have found a new family I know I can count on.

I embrace that girl who was so moved the day she heard she had been granted the scholarship, because I am, and will continue being myself, Norma.

Being a part of this scholarship program -which exists and grows thanks to all the people who, without knowing us, believe in us- changed my life. I have met all the scholarship grantees, and we are all young women with dreams, willing to confront adversity and take advantage of the possibilities that arise, struggling to achieve our goals.

Thank you dear donor, who from a distance, supports us; no matter where you are, you are giving us confidence in what we do each day. Our histories, and the association, exist thanks to you.

We are many dreams waiting to be fulfilled.

Sincerely,

Norma