It Takes a Village to Raise a Child
We invite you to be in solidarity with our village
to help us raise our children
We cannot do it alone
This African Proverb speaks to the true necessity of community support for children's development and education-especially in a reality that struggles to survive and move forward. The reality of poor Salvadoran families is on a daily basis saturated in deadly violence, crippled by the poverty of opportunity, beaten down by oppressive hierarchies, lost in the uncertainty of job stability or relationship fidelity, separated by the disintegration of families caused by migration to the US and overwhelmed by disillusion.
Yet in this same intense reality, freedom lies, hope pulses and faith directs.
With this energy and resilience, families sigue adelante, they continue forward no matter what. The village of San Ramon endures it all-the suffering and the joy. The community views Centro Hogar as a resource for emotional support for parents and as a school that provides a nurturing care and a well-rounded education for their children. The success of education and family 
development is contingent upon the community member's shared vested interest in children.
Fostering the community's concern is difficult because the majority live in survival mode and from a place of desperation. In an environment were irresponsibility, corruption and the lack of accountability is the norm, it is extremely difficult to instill an expectation for the opposite.
Nevertheless, we plant seeds with the hope that they may someday grow. With this sense of hope and trust, Centro Hogar staff holds parents and guardians accountable for the well-being of their children. Through out-reach programs, monthly parent meetings, house visits and much more the support team encourages family members to be a leading example of care, love and responsibility. We involve the village of San Ramon to help raise our children .
We invite you to be in solidarity with our village
to help us raise our children
It's true; we cannot raise, support and educate each child alone. You and your familly can be a part of the village of San Ramon and be involved in raising children of Centro Hogar in a variety of important ways:
Scholarship Program: You can directly sponsor a child's education by contributing towards a portion of his/her tuition.
The monthly quotas for children’s educational expenses depend on the families’ economic status. Centro Hogar estimates $1 per day per child provides excellent child care, a challenging education, nutritional meals, and family accompaniment through social work and professional guidance. The quotas range from $35, $30, $25, $20, $15, $12 and $10. Only 5 families in the school can afford to regularly pay $35 a month. Of the 114 families, 86% are on scholarship through Programa Velasco or another program and pay $15, $12 or $10.
Programa Velasco provides an opportunity for more children to attend Centro Hogar while paying a more affordable quota. Families in Programa Velasco pay $12 a month and their sponsors contribute $30 a month and $360 a year. A $7 portion a month goes to help fund part of he salary of the Salvadoran social worker. Providing sustainability for the social work position also provides sustainability for Programa Velasco. During the month of December students will not be in school, as it is their summer vacation. However, the $30 contribution for the month of December provided $20 in medical check-ups and access to the clinic within ANADES as well as a $10 registration fee for the child’s enrollment in 2011.
Parents' Personal Formation and Development Group: You can sponsor a monthly workshop centered on adult personal formation
am that invites them to reflect on who they are, encourages them to seek their goals and learn positive ways to handle stress. These workshops have become a meaningful and restoring experience for parents.
To facilitate the workshops, Programa Velasco provides a stipend for Oti, materials for activities, a stipend for a teacher to take care of the children and refreshments. Your gift of $55 covers the expenses for one workshop.
General Donation
If you would prefer to make a donation of another amount you can contribute towards our general education and scholarship fund at Centro Hogar. These gifts are also very needed and appreciated!
How to make you contribution
We invite donors to contribute to Programa Velasco by using the PayPal service located on the right hand margin. We hope this is a simple and efficient way for you to make your donation! If you would like to write a check, you can make it out to: Programa Velasco and send it to:
Santa Clara University
Programa Velasco-Department of English
500 El Camino Real
Santa Clara, CA 95053-0280
to help us raise the children of Centro Hogar!
