When I met Maria, she was an energetic and smiley little girl. She and her brother would run out to greet any group that came to visit the housing project that was being built directly behind her home.

The highlight of her day was spending time with these visiting groups. She loved to play with group members and hug people hello and goodbye. She didn’t realize that she was the highlight of our day too. We always looked for Maria!

Once the housing project was complete, groups began visiting the community less frequently and we missed our little friend Maria. In our minds, she was always the same little girl who bounced around smiling and giggling.

Pictured: Maria (yellow shirt) in 2013

Fast forward a decade when I had the chance to visit Maria’s community. Of course, I asked around to see if I could find her. A young woman walked toward me, uncertain as to why she had been called. It was Maria! She had grown into a beautiful, young, intelligent woman. She participated in our scholarship program and was just one week away from graduating. She had plans… BIG plans… to continue her education. Not only that, but she also had a deep desire to make her family proud and help them have a better life.

I showed her pictures from when she was a little girl, and she immediately started tearing up. She said, “I cannot believe you all remember me.” I am sure those of you who met Maria are thinking the same thing that I thought at that moment- “Of course we remember you!”.

We, as an organization, and you, as sponsors, impact lives in ways we can’t imagine. So many children and youth cross our path at crucial times in their lives, and we have the great honor and responsibility to encourage and support them in their pursuit of a better life. As you visit Nicaragua or reach out to your students through letters and Zoom calls, you are making an impact. Please do not ever discount the importance of these interactions and the role you play in shaping the lives of young people.

The trajectory of Maria’s life has changed thanks to opportunities she received through our programs and a group of people loving her well over the last decade. You can support the future of individuals like Maria by sponsoring a student at https://www.rainbownetwork.org/student/#!.

Megan Herrera, President