JE Global Significance

How do you make a difference in your community?What are you doing to create change?

The way my partner and I are making a difference in our community is by providing outreach services to the people of Pinilla who do not have the means to survive. However, it is important to note that this community does not have support from large organizations such as Abriendo Mentes and CEPIA. That being said, we want to be part of the first project that helps this community. We are taking all the necessary steps to be able to collect money through fundraisers and donations for the basic baskets. We are also collaborating with Kenya and Isabel’s CAS project and working together to make changes in our communities.

Can you show the process that you are going through to do that? What are the obstacles? How are you getting through them?

At the moment, one of the great advances we have made is to sell empanadas. We realized that it is a product that the students of La Paz like very much, and they sell very quickly. One of the small details that we should improve for the next sale is to try to organize ourselves a little more with the money and the customers. Another way we are raising money is through dress down days which I think is going to be very efficient for us. We include all the houses and with this we will generate more income. We want to open a bank account to be able to receive donations from parents/families or anyone who wants to help, however one of the challenges is to open an account since we are underage. My partner Geyra took care of having an account in the bank of CR and Nacional. It will take some time since our parents/including us have little time to be able to go to the banks. It is not impossible, we are going to make it. While this process of credit cards is being done, we will be receiving cash. I came up with the idea of asking for donations from the Elevate families where I currently work. The moms have been very kind and want to be part of the change.

Even though the obstacles may not be that formidable, they are small things that don’t stop us from doing big things. The way we deal with these little problems is through communication, organization and support from our parents and mentor. We had a hard time starting this project because of the community’s indisposition. It led us to become demotivated and to doubt a lot about what we really wanted to do. Thanks to our hope we were able to do what we planned to do from the beginning. This year we are going with all the motivation and love in the world.

How does your project demonstrate engagement in global significance?

Sadly in today’s world there are people who have been affected by Covid or others who live in poverty. Many generous people create campaigns or organize community groups to help people in need. Whether it’s basic food baskets, building houses so they have a place to live, clothing donations… Our project involves a global meaning since we are involved in the same culture to help those people who need care and support. Now with this new virus if the cases increase and there are sanitary restrictions again for everyone, it will negatively affect many people and we probably won’t be able to help everyone but small acts make a big change. Giving hands are never empty.