'My mom is the best thing I have'
Story by Baltazar Ventura, World Vision El Salvador. Photos by Jon Warren.
May 2011
Kimberly, a sponsored child in El Salvador, loves nature and animals, including her pet cat. But perhaps the most important person in her life is her mother.
"She is always taking care of me," says the fourth-grader with a smile.
"I like the way she says goodbye; and when she comes back, she always gives me a kiss. At home, it is only her and I. My dad lives in the United States, but I know he is also with us."
Thanks to the benefits they enjoy through World Vision's sponsorship program, this 10-year-old girl and her mom can lead healthy, productive lives, while maintaining a strong relationship with each other.
Active and ambitious
Edy Vasquez speaks glowingly of her daughter. "She is a good girl," says the proud mom. "She is obedient, she is playful, and she is a good student. She is always looking for a way to help at home. She is happy with the club we have here in the village."
The club to which Edy refers is a youth club established by World Vision. Kimberly appreciates it because it gives her a chance to interact and form friendships with others her age.
"I like being with the young people, because they let me participate," says Kimberly. "I think of myself as a leader. I like helping my classmates, and I am always encouraging them to participate, [especially] when we are discussing a topic or when we have some activities in the club."
'A born leader'
Kimberly is equally involved at her school, where she does well with her studies and shows enthusiasm for learning.
"At school, my grades are 'A-,'" she says. "Language is my favorite subject. I like it because it is about reading, and this is something I like very much."
And reading is exactly what this intelligent girl does in her Bible study, another program implemented by World Vision as a form of spiritual nurture for sponsored children in the community.
"Kimberly is a girl with a mindset of a young lady," says Carlos Sorto, a World Vision development worker in the village. "She is really a born leader."
An empowering relationship
Like other sponsored children in her village, Kimberly receives letters from her sponsors in the United States. She says she's gotten at least three.
"Along with the letter, I have received photographs and stamps that I have put on my notebook," says Kimberly, who clearly values the relationship she's formed with her sponsor.
Meanwhile, her mother reflects on how World Vision's work has impacted their lives. "Through the entrepreneur program and the workshop given by World Vision, I was trained in the area of dressmaking two years ago," says Edy. "Thank God, I have customers, and I have lots of work to do."
In part, this is because of the job she has for the school her daughter attends. "My school leaders assigned [my mom] to sew the blouses of the girls here, so she has lots of work," says Kimberly.
"That is why I want her to teach me how to sew -- to help her and to have a good business, both of us."
'I thank all the people in the United States'
It's just one example of the bond that exists between this girl and her mother. Edy expresses gratitude for the blessings that have made it possible.
"I thank all the people in the United States, that without knowing us, they are contributing so our children and communities live better," she says.
"I think this is a seed that will bear fruit. I cannot thank you enough for this. I will always be very grateful to World Vision."
Two ways you can help
Thank God for the happiness that Kimberly and her mother have found through the benefits of sponsorship, and praise Him for blessing them with the loving relationship they have with each other.
Sponsor a child like Kimberly in El Salvador in honor of Mother's Day. Your support can help reinforce the bond between a child and his or her mother; or, it can provide a similar loving relationship for a boy or girl who doesn't have a mom.