Stories of Hope
Adaly is grateful for you.
One of our Institute alums, Adaly, said something that I can't stop thinking about. "We are all used to studying just to work here," she said. "Nothing changes. We're in a square." "But the Institute shows us that there are things outside of that square. That's the...
read moreGirls like Yanelí are the future
It never gets old, friends. Every summer as we welcome new students, I am struck by just how incredible this experience is. How honored I am to be a part of these young leaders' lives. And how grateful I am to each of you for making it all possible. When I meet girls...
read moreJulissa inspires me.
Julissa talks a million miles a minute and has a permanent smile on her face. But her life has not always been easy. When she talks about her community, she says, "Our neighborhood is super closed-minded. No one is growing. No one believes in us. People don't think...
read moreLet’s hear it for the girls! (Starting with Angie!)
When I think of perseverance, I think of Angie. When we first met her three years ago, she was shy and self-contained. In her words, "Before, I had a really closed-off view of the world. I was afraid." She joined the Institute, where she learned to better express...
read moreYou changed Abner’s life
A month ago, Abner showed up to his first-ever Hands Offering Hope event. His friend Ana—an Institute alum and leadership club leader in San Angel—invited him to attend the Winter Conference, and Abner said yes. This event that you funded and our student leaders made...
read more“I want to inspire more young people.” – Emilio
Emilio has a sweet smile and a quiet disposition. He's kind-hearted and soft-spoken, but he'll be the first to tell you that he has big plans for his future. "You don't need to be a boss to be a leader," he says. "The leader is the person who helps his team." And...
read moreMeet Iliana, one of our incredible students
Iliana's birthday is August 10. For the past two years, she has celebrated her big day amidst a busy schedule of classes and activities at the Institute. And they have been some of her favorite birthdays ever. When reflecting on the past two summers, she said, "I...
read moreA BIG Birthday Announcement
Hello friends! Today is my birthday (yay!) and I get to make a really huge announcement! Five years ago, a group of us saw the beauty and power in the youth of this incredible community in Mexico. We built a program to show these students their massive potential, then...
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