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Meet Felicia


Felicia is a 32-year-old single mom of three children (Benjamin 12, Yazmin 10, and Jonathan 7). She was born in Oaxaca, MX, and dropped out of school after 6th grade.


Felicia's family has been a part of MdC's Empowerment Program since 2020. Her children attend MdC's daily education program, Super Saturdays, and the grocery program at Casa Esperanza. Felicia is also involved in our Women's Work Program, creating embroidered products, and in November of 2023 was hired by MdC as a cooking assistant.


Read more about Felicia's powerful story

When asked about her work in MdC's Embroidery Program:

“I embroidered before, but very little. It was here at MdC where I let myself go and it is a great help.


I make my three children lunch for school, but I use the embroidery money so my children can buy things at recess time.


For me, embroidery is a help and a break. When I get to embroider, I take my things and put a video on my phone...Although I can't see it, I am listening while I do my embroidery calmly, which relaxes me. I especially enjoy fantasy stories or series."


When asked about her work history:


In November 2023, Felicia was hired by MdC as a cooking assistant in the kitchen.



This has been an incredible change for Felicia and her family as it is much better than her previous job working in the fields where the hours prevented her from having relationships with her children. 

“I had always worked in the fields...I'm talking about getting up at 3-4 in the morning, commuting for two hours, working all day, and then another two hours to get home.


Being able to work here is a huge change because for as long as my children can remember, they have been alone. When they were babies, they had a babysitter, usually a cousin or really whoever could take them, but the person was never the same. And then, when they grew a few years older they were alone...They were in great danger being alone, and more than once, they went without food.


I always left them something to eat during the day, but in the fields, you never know what time they are going to let you go, so there were times I came home, and they were starving. 


I didn't really know my children, because I didn't see them. Until recently I began to really be with them and get to know them as they are. My oldest child barely spoke and took the longest to get used to me being around. Now he's starting to tell me things...I understand now that I lost a lot of my children's time, and I won't be able to get it back.” 

As a result of Felicia’s ability to be home and in our education program, her children have seen major improvements personally and academically. 


"I definitely see a change in my kids...Unlike when they only went to public school...my youngest child (Jonathan) already started reading, when it took his siblings about two more years to learn. My daughter (Yazmín) is especially enthusiastic about learning English and is always repeating what she learns in class. The last thing she shared with me were several words that I don't know...but her enthusiasm influences her younger brother. I'm so happy and proud of them."



Felicia then talks about her oldest child, Benjamin, and his growth.


"...he was the one who spent the most time alone as a little child, that's why he has always been the quietest. I have noticed the biggest change on him, because at the beginning when I started being around him day after day, he barely spoke to me and shared things to me. Now he tells me how he feels, and I also have learned to notice when something happens to him. From time to time, I'm starting to hear things that he never told me before, like “Take good care of yourself, mom,” “Farewell, I love you.” I couldn’t be more grateful with Jean and Francisco for giving me this."

When asked how important community has been to her after living alone and relying on babysitters to watch her children while in the fields, Felicia answers,


"I have noticed in myself that I am more open to share what I feel. I think I'm still a bit quiet, but I'm not the same as I was two years ago...Little by little I have learned to trust my coworkers, especially Gaby, my kitchen partner. I have adapted very well to her, and I think we understand each other without needing much. I am at her service, and she is at mine, I know that I can lean on her, even if I need someone to listen..."

Felicia’s story is just one example of the many families we partner with who are dedicated to their children’s education and willing to make sacrifices to support it. We believe that family-centric support is crucial to our children’s success. Our robust curriculum standards, combined with programs that empower the entire family help children stay in school and achieve better outcomes.


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