CETAP-Lucy Child Sponsorship Program

The school year ended in June 2023, with the excellentnews that all our students were promoted to the next grade! Also, several children who were with CETAP-Lucy from the very beginning graduated from their high schools and universities. We are especially proud of Christian Picón, who, after graduating at the top of his class from Salesianos Technical High School,finished his courses at the Universidad Politécnica Salesiana, defended his graduate thesisreceiving a score of 100 out of 100! This fall, Christian will continue his education in Monterrey. Mexico, to become a mechatronics engineer. Christian also volunteered for a year before university working in the Amazon jungle with the Achuar people, learning their language and helping with various building projects. Christian’s success would never have been possible without the help and advice he received over the years from CETAP-Lucy. We are exceptionally proud of him!

We also celebrated the graduations of Christian’s younger brother, Christopher, and Juan Diego Japa. Juan Diego quit high school with a plan to illegally enter the United States last year. We were able to convince him to return to school to get his diploma. He was successful and has been accepted into a program where this fall, he will be trained to work in Italy under a legal visa for five years. Also, Paola, who has intelligence deficits (as a preschooler, Paola spoke her own language!) managed to get the best passing grade of anyone in her class! We are proud of all of them.

Usually, the June and July months of “summer school” at CETAP-Lucy involve helping students who did poorly on their final exams to study and re-take their exams and raise their grades. As ALL our children were promoted, the focus was on summer fun! The children loved visiting Cuenca’s thermal pools, learning games with the help of volunteers, field trips and special art projects. Volunteers from China taught how to make noodles, and Chef Andres taught us how to be safe in the kitchen! 

        ¡  Swimming is fun!                              We sewed stuffed- animal toys!

                      Making noodles!                                  Cooking with Andres!                      

Another project was making marbleized paper, with help from Kim Wood and Tom Fleishman. The paper can be used to make cards and jewelry, cover notebooks, etc. It was a fun and messy afternoon! 

We enter the new school year with new issues. Many children are not prepared for changes in the educational system. (For instance, children entering high school or college are not aware that some of their classes will be conducted in English!) For this, we are especially thankful for our continued connection with Children of the Night, who provide free personalized on-line English language training.

We want to thank everyone who has supported us in the past and ask that you continue to help us with our cause, to help children at risk have the best chance for a better future. 

A Hug

Rocio Illescas