I came to Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos (NPH) El Salvador in October 2003. At that time, I knew tía Juanita, who was a cook at the Girls’ House in Santa Ana. She, along with tía Paty, helped me settle in and begin caring for the little girls.
At first, I was motivated by necessity—I was a single mother at only 19 years old. But over time, I began to truly feel part of a family. At that time, there were almost 500 children in the home, and that family atmosphere was what made me stay.
I remember the first few days being very challenging, especially because I was away from my own family. I had long shifts caring for the girls, but I also fondly remember spending time with the 21 girls, ages 6 and 7, who were under my care.
From the beginning, the values I learned at NPH—inspired by Father Wasson—resonated with me and motivated me to continue. The mutual love between girls and caregivers felt like that of a true family. From a young age, the children learned responsibility—making their beds, cleaning their rooms—and they taught me the value of sharing: giving even when you have little.
Today, I work as a caregiver for young people who are studying for high school and university at the San Francisco de Asís Youth House. My role is to guide and support them in a disciplined and loving way, preparing them for a successful and happy path in society.
Guiding young people through the transition from adolescence to adulthood is not always easy. I have to address personal, emotional, and academic challenges directly and personally, always seeking a balance between firmness and care.
When dealing with situations like personal or academic frustrations, I try to observe changes in the young people, talk to them individually, seek support tools, make agreements, evaluate results, and, if they do not work, we continue until we find a solution or stability for the problem.
I believe that a fundamental aspect of building trust with young people is believing in them—making them feel capable of striving and learning every day. Even if achieving a goal is difficult, having a role model helps keep them moving forward.
One of the stories that has had the greatest impact on me was that of a young woman who studied to become a professional chef. She arrived at the Youth Center full of fears and uncertainty about this new stage. But over time, thanks to her efforts and the support she received, she managed to handle each situation well and grew into her profession. Later, we worked with her on job placement; she left NPH with a job, and it fills us with joy and pride to know that she is doing very well in a restaurant and has even received a promotion.
Stories like this reaffirm how essential it is for young people to acquire key skills before entering the world. From the time they are students, they must learn about responsibility, hard work, sharing, and honesty so that they can become good people by practicing the pillars NPH has provided in their lives. Over the years and up to the present, I have witnessed how NPH increasingly strives to provide quality care, education, and attention to its young people, adapting to their new realities. And we, as educators, continue to practice these values every day, accompanying them with programs and activities designed for their development.
A MESSAGE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
To those moving from high school to university, I hope you complete your studies fully, find meaningful opportunities, find joy in what you achieve, and never forget your roots—so you can always remain grateful.
To the young people who are about to finish their studies and begin a new stage outside of home, I would say: never give up. You are good people, and your values should never change. Responsibility, education, and sharing should always be part of your daily lives—and if possible, continue studying.
Remember that NPH is your family forever, and I have always seen you as my children. I would like you, when you look back, to remember me as someone who always cared for you and supported you in every way possible, like a mother would.
After 21 years at NPH, I feel more committed than ever—professionally and emotionally—to each young person I serve. They have taught me that “where there is a will, there is a way,” and that our only true limitations are the ones we place on ourselves.
At Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos, we believe in the transformative power of mentoring. We are committed to empowering youth, providing them with an environment where they feel heard, supported, and able to build a future with hope, values, and opportunities. NPH is family!