What I Learned From the Visits 

Working with the kids at Sueños y Huellas and Picacho con Futuro has been an enlightening and heartwarming experience. Each time I am greeted with an abundance of energy, enthusiasm, and curiosity from these young minds. I see the boundless potential that lies within them.

Organizing events for the kids has been a significant learning curve. In Sueños y Huellas, my partner and I arranged a memory card game to help them practice English. While the game was a hit, I realized too late that I hadn’t distributed the rewards (i.e., candies) fairly, which made me feel guilty and reflect on the larger issue of resource inequality. Initially, I gave out too many candies in the first few rounds. As the candies dwindled, I increased the game's difficulty to make them last, resulting in kids with the same performance receiving different amounts of candies due to limited resources. This experience was a microcosm of the broader issue of resource inequality. It was disheartening to see the disappointment on the faces of the kids who didn’t receive the same rewards as their peers, despite putting in the same effort. It made me acutely aware of how limited resources and ‘game rules’ can impact fairness and equality, not just in games, but in all areas of life.

One of the most rewarding yet challenging aspects of this journey has been my own growth in learning Spanish. The kids have been my patient teachers, helping me navigate their language with giggles and gentle corrections. However, I often find myself wishing I knew more Spanish. There are moments when I long to delve deeper into their stories, to understand their backgrounds and to share more of my own. The language barrier sometimes feels like a tall wall, but every new word I learn is a step towards breaking it down.

Geared Up for the Crowdfunding Plan for Sueños y Huellas

As we look to the future, we are gearing up for an exciting crowdfunding campaign to support the wonderful work of Sueños y Huellas. Our aim is to ensure we can continue providing enriching experiences and essential resources for the kids.

Securing a steady flow of donations remains the main challenge for Sueños y Huellas. The external support has been reduced due to policy changes, personal issues, and company dynamics. One way to alleviate this is to diversify their income streams by launching more crowdfunding campaigns, organizing fundraising events, and establishing stronger partnerships with local businesses. Another way is to increase their outreach to potential international sponsors through targeted social media campaigns and personal outreach to former volunteers and their networks.

Can't wait to provide updates about our progress next week!