Programa Velasco

Welcome to Programa Velasco!

Children in Programa Velasco 2011

Programa Velasco is an educational and empowerment program for families whose children are enrolled in Centro Hogar, a pre-school within Asociación Nuevo Amanecer de El Salvador (New Dawn Association of El Salvador); located in San Ramon, Mejicanos, just outside of San Salvador. Programa Velasco has three branches, the Scholarship Program for Children, the Parents’ Personal Formation and Development Program and Community Savings and Lending Program for Women.

Parents involved in Programa Velasco 2011

Programa Velasco began in December 2007 when Juan Velasco, a professor from Santa Clara University lived in El Salvador and taught with the university’s study aboard program, Casa de la Solidaridad. Annie Boyd, a close friend to Juan and Casa alum, worked on the Casa staff as well as a social worker at Centro Hogar. Together, Juan and Annie desired to create an opportunity for more children to attend the school as well as bring awareness of the Salvadoran reality to the international community. Juan found an interest in contributing towards a child’s educational expenses within Centro Hogar. Juan shared this idea with his family and friends who then chose to sponsor a child. Shortly thereafter, those contributors spread the idea and opportunity to support Programa Velasco. From Juan’s guidance and initiative to develop the program, the staff at Centro Hogar named the program after him. Within three years, Programa Velasco has grown to support more than 70 children through the contributions of sponsors and a number of anonymous donors from the United States, Canada, and Spain.

Parents involved in Programa Velasco 2010

Sponsors of Programa Velasco offer children an empowering and generous gift of education and personal development by contributing to the children's school tuition. Families strongly value education as a means to break free from the oppressive bonds of poverty. However, many Salvadoran families are not able to afford early education, elementary or high school expenses. Programa Velasco seeks to provide opportunities for young children to develop self confidence in academic work, necessary educational skills as well as an appreciation for school and learning. Parents and family members also benefit and grow from formative workshops centered on parenting and self empowerment. Sponsors make a monthly contribution of $30 and Salvadoran families pay $12 for one child's tuition. Details of the scholarship and contribution can be found in Support a Child

Parents in Programa Velasco, 2009

Children in Programa Velasco, 2009

Children in Programa Velasco 2008

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Programa Velasco 2009

Programa Velasco is a scholarship program for children enrolled in Centro Hogar, (Home Center), a pre-school within Asociación Nuevo Amanecer de El Salvador (New Dawn Association of El Salvador). The program began in December 2007 when Juan Velasco, a professor from Santa Clara University lived in El Salvador and taught with the university’s study aboard program, Casa de la Solidaridad. Annie Boyd, a close friend to Juan and Casa alum, worked on the Casa staff as well as a social worker at Centro Hogar.

Parents involved in Programa Velasco January 2009

Together, Juan and Annie desired to create an opportunity for more children to attend the school as well as bring awareness of the Salvadoran reality to the international community. Juan found an interest in contributing towards a child’s educational expenses within Centro Hogar. Juan shared this idea with his family and friends who then chose to sponsor a child. Shortly thereafter, those contributors spread the idea and opportunity to support Programa Velasco. From Juan’s guidance and initiative to develop the program, the staff at Centro Hogar named the program after him. Within the 2008 school year, Programa Velasco grew to support 33 children through the contributions of 25 sponsors and a number of anonymous donors from the United States, Canada, and Spain.

Children in Programa Velasco 2008

Sponsors of Programa Velasco offer children an empowering and generous gift of education and personal development through contributing to the childrens' school tuition. Families strongly value education as a means to break free from the oppressive bonds of poverty. However, many Salvadoran families are not able to afford early education, elementary or high school expenses. Programa Velasco seeks to provide opportunities for young children to develop self confidence in academic work, necessary educational skills as well as an appreciation for school and learning. Parents and family members also benefit and grow from formative workshops centered on parenting and self empowerment. Sponsors make a monthly contribution of $30 and Salvadoran families pay $12 for one child's tuition. Details of the scholarship and contribution can be found in: Support a Child

Programa Velasco 2009

Parents involved in Programa Velasco January 2009

Children in Programa Velasco 2008

If you have any questions or comments regarding Programa Velasco or Asociacion Nuevo Amanecer de El Salvador, contact Annie Boyd, the Executive Director at annie@programavelasco.org or Olivia Amadon, the In-Country Director at olivia@programavelasco.org

US Mailing Address:
Programa Velasco
Santa Clara University
Department of English
500 El Camino Real
Santa Clara, CA 95053-0280

El Salvador Mailing Address:
Programa Velasco
Asociacion Nuevo Amanecer de El Salvador
Col. El Triunfo Final Pasaje Molina #14,
San Ramon, Mejicanos, Apartado Postal 567
Departamento de San Salvador
El Salvador, Central America

En Español:

El Programa Velasco es un programa de becas para niños y niñas inscritos en Centro Hogar, una escuela de preescolar perteneciente a la Asociación Nuevo Amanecer en El Salvador. El programa comenzó en diciembre de 2007 cuando Juan Velasco, profesor de la Universidad de California Santa Clara (UCSC), estuvo viviendo en El Salvador enseñando dentro del programa de estudios en el extranjero de la universidad, Casa de la Solidaridad.

Annie Boyd, amiga cercana de Juan y alumna de Casa, trabajó tanto en el equipo de Casa como de trabajadora social en Centro Hogar. Juntos, Juan y Annie decidieron crear una oportunidad para que más niños y niñas pudieran asistir al colegio, así como también llamar la atención de la comunidad internacional sobre la realidad salvadoreña. Juan encontró interesante contribuir a los gastos educativos de los niños y niñas de Centro Hogar. Compartió la idea con su familia y amigos, los cuales eligieron apadrinar un niño o niña. Poco después, aquellos que contribuyeron propagaron la idea y la oportunidad de apoyar el Programa Velasco. De la dirección e iniciativa de Juan Velasco para desarrollar el programa, el equipo de Centro Hogar decidió denominar al programa con su nombre.

Dentro del curso escolar 2008, el Programa Velasco creció hasta los 33 niños y niñas a través de las contribuciones de 25 padrinos y numerosos donantes anónimos llegados desde los Estados Unidos, Canadá y España. Los padrinos del Programa Velasco ofrecen a los niños y niñas un generoso regalo, facilitándoles una educación y desarrollo personal a través de la contribución a sus gastos de escolarización. Sus familias valoran muy positivamente la educación, como medio de liberarse de la opresión que supone la pobreza. Sin embargo, muchas familias salvadoreñas no pueden permitirse los gastos que supone ningun tipo de educación, ya sea esta preescolar, primaria o secundaria. El Programa Velasco lo que persigue es dar facilidad de oportunidades para los niños y niñas de corta edad, para desarrollar en ellos la autoconfianza en el trabajo academico, y las habilidades educativas necesarias, así como un aprecio por el aprendizaje y la institución. Los padres y los miembros de sus familias también se benefician y desarrollan, a través de talleres formativos orientados a la paternidad y el autocontrol de la autoridad.La contribución mensual que realiza cada padrino es de 30$ (aprox.25euro), siendo la contribución de las familias salvadoreñas de 12$ (aprox.10euro), para la escolarización de cada niño o niña. Para más detalles sobre las becas y contribuciones económicas, pueden encontrarse en: Apoyales.

El Programa Velasco es un programa de becas para niños y niñas inscritos en Centro Hogar, una escuela de preescolar perteneciente a la Asociación Nuevo Amanecer en El Salvador.
El programa comenzó en diciembre de 2007 cuando Juan Velasco, profesor de la Universidad de California Santa Clara (UCSC), estuvo viviendo en El Salvador enseñando dentro del programa de estudios en el extranjero de la universidad, Casa de la Solidaridad.
Annie Boyd, amiga cercana de Juan y alumna de Casa, trabajó tanto en el equipo de Casa como de trabajadora social en Centro Hogar. Juntos, Juan y Annie decidieron crear una oportunidad para que más niños y niñas pudieran asistir al colegio, así como también llamar la atención de la comunidad internacional sobre la realidad salvadoreña. Juan encontró interesante contribuir a los gastos educativos de los niños y niñas de Centro Hogar. Compartió la idea con su familia y amigos, los cuales eligieron apadrinar un niño o niña. Poco después, aquellos que contribuyeron propagaron la idea y la oportunidad de apoyar el Programa Velasco. De la dirección e iniciativa de Juan Velasco para desarrollar el programa, el equipo de Centro Hogar decidió denominar al programa con su nombre.

Dentro del curso escolar 2008, el Programa Velasco creció hasta los 33 niños y niñas a través de las contribuciones de 25 padrinos y numerosos donantes anónimos llegados desde los Estados Unidos, Canadá y España. Los padrinos del Programa Velasco ofrecen a los niños y niñas un generoso regalo, facilitándoles una educación y desarrollo personal a través de la contribución a sus gastos de escolarización. Sus familias valoran muy positivamente la educación, como medio de liberarse de la opresión que supone la pobreza. Sin embargo, muchas familias salvadoreñas no pueden permitirse los gastos que supone ningun tipo de educación, ya sea esta preescolar, primaria o secundaria. El Programa Velasco lo que persigue es dar facilidad de oportunidades para los niños y niñas de corta edad, para desarrollar en ellos la autoconfianza en el trabajo academico, y las habilidades educativas necesarias, así como un aprecio por el aprendizaje y la institución. Los padres y los miembros de sus familias también se benefician y desarrollan, a través de talleres formativos orientados a la paternidad y el autocontrol de la autoridad.
La contribución mensual que realiza cada padrino es de 30$ (aprox.25euro), siendo la contribución de las familias salvadoreñas de 12$ (aprox.10euro), para la escolarización de cada niño o niña. Para más detalles sobre las becas y contribuciones económicas, pueden encontrarse en: Apoyales

Thank you to our 2009 supporters!

Sponsors, Megan Raimondi (on the right), Jen Latimer and Allie Dunne visited Centro Hogar as part of the 10th anniversary celebration for their study abroad program, Casa de la Solidaridad in November 2009.

Scott Ahlstrom & Family, Wilmette, IL
Beth Andreasen, Clarksville, TN
Ana Allen, West Des Moines, IA
Karen and Philip Bernosky, Saratoga, CA
Betty Jane and Ken Boyd, Downers Grove, IL
Anne Boyd Senor, Chicago, IL
Judy Dunbar, Santa Clara, CA
Kate and Brian Dunneback, Bolingbrook, IL
Peter Dunne, Topanga, CA
Allie Dunne, Topanga, CA
Julia Gabbert & Family, Eden Prairie, MN
Manuel Gomez, Calgary, Canada
Beth & Denny Hart, Chicago, IL
John Hawley, Sunnyvale, CA
Cathleen and Bo Hines, Tuscalousa, AL
Erin and Nathan Hollander, Los Angeles, CA
Jen Latimer & Family, Texas
Latino Business Association of Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, CA
Patrick, Lucien, & Emory Lynch, Houston, TX

Todd Madigan, San Jose, CA
Mayra Majore, Calgary, Canada
Deb & Jerry Moriarty, Chicago, IL
Rich, Georgiann & Megan Raimondi & Family, Boise, ID
Dave and Tiffany Reidy, Chicago, IL
Jean Reidy, Chicago, IL
Brian and Missy Scott-Lorentz, Santa Clara, CA
Suzanne Lucas and Jeff Semp, Oakland, CA
Kathy & John Steiner, Chicago, IL
Michele Thompson, San José, CA
Juan Velasco, San José, CA
Mari Velasco, Lawrence, KS
Ramon Velasco Senor, Madrid, Spain
Ramon Velasco, Madrid, Spain

Scott & Anne Veselik, Chicago, IL

Scott Ahlstrom, a Santa Clara University and Casa alum, spends time with
Marcos, a student in the first grade preparatory class in May 2009.

In November 2009, Jen Latimer visited with Cesar Alejandro, a student
she and her family have sponsored for the last two years.

...our 2008 Supporters!

Patrick and Lucien Lynch visit with the Alvarenga Family November 2008
Hugo and Daisy with their children, Juan and twin brother Marco, Cristina & Joel

Ana Allen, West Des Moines, IA
Betty Jane & Ken Boyd, Downers Grove, IL
Billie & Tom DiMare, Indio, CA

Allie Dunne, Santa Clara, CA
Peter Dunne, Topanga, CA
Nanishka & Brooke Duthie, Montara, CA
Michael & Alexandra Flynn, Victoria, BC Canada
Jenny Gore, Santa Clara, CA
John Hawley, Sunnyvale, CA
Erin & Nattan Hollander, Los Angeles, CA
Jen Latimer, Santa Clara, CA
Marjorie Lovell, Pacifica, CA
Suzanne Lucas & Jeff Stemp, Oakland, CA
Patrick & Lucien Lynch, Houston, TX
Irene McKenna, Long Beach CA
Ramon & Catalina Moreno Velasco, Madrid Spain
Marisa Ornelas, Santa Clara, CA
Hilda Peinado, Los Angeles, CA
Georgiann & Rich Raimondi, Boise, ID
Megan Raimondi, Boston MA
Mu Sang Sunim, San José, CA
Michele Thompson, San José, CA
Juan Velasco, San José, CA
Mari Velasco, Lawrence, KS

Ramon Velasco, Madrid, Spain

Allie Dunne, a Casa Alum and Santa Clara University alum visits with children she and her father, Peter Dunne sponsor. Top picture, Hazel Carolina with her grandmother, Dinora and older brother, Axel. To the right, Marilyn and her twin sister Rocio, and Hazel.

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

We cannot do it alone

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

Part of the integral educational experience at Centro Hogar is felt through Programa Velasco's initiative on adult personal formation and development. During the monthly workshops, Oti Guardado Parras, a community organizer facilitates activities, meditations, conversations and massages on how parents can learn more about who they are and how they can best care for themselves. Many parents have never an opportunity to participate in a progr

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

Thank you for your consideration, solidarity and willingness
to help us raise the children of Centro Hogar!

Asociación Nuevo Amanecer de
El Salvador

Asociación Nuevo Amanecer de El Salvador (New Dawn Association of El Salvador) is a local non-profit and non-governmental agency providing a variety of services to a number of urban and rural communities. The association began in 1986, in the midst of the country’s twelve year civil war. Mothers from the surrounding urban San Ramon community organized themselves to with the idea to create an orphanage. However, the idea grew into a establishing a pre-school center, where children could be cared for and educated while families worked. During this time of war, families suffered from violence, death, and injustice. The mothers who organized ANADES where moved by their faith and pain to commitment to persevering the most precious gift of all –life and most specifically, the lives of children. Throughout the years, the spirit of these women and martyrs such as Archbishop Oscar Arnulfo Romero and Alfonso Acevedo inspired others to dedicate their lives to justice, accompanying the poor and suffering, and improving the harsh reality and limited opportunities. With this motivation the association has grown into 4 main branches: five early education centers throughout the country, community development and organizing in rural and urban areas, two health care clinics, and sustainability through produce from an organic farm.

Centro Hogar Alfonso Acevedo, San Ramon, San Salvador

Children in Programa Velasco attend Centro Hogar, one of the 5 pre-schools of ANADES

ANADES Community Health Clinic, Torola, Morazán
Mental Health Workshop for victims of the Salvadoran Civil War (1980-1992)

Finca San Jorge, Sonsonate
ANADES Staff Retreat at Organic Farm, San Jorge

Finca San Jorge, Sonsonate:

Vision of ANADES: We are an institution with Christian, supportive, democratic and equitable values which reflect love, respect, life, and nature. We are committed to providing education, health care, and community development to families and children. We strive to strengthen our staff with workshops to reflect on the experience in order to grow personally and institutionally through providing sustainability to programs and projects.

Mission: To improve the quality of life of community members who receive professional and quality services in education, health care, and community development through strengthening their abilities and potentials, and bringing hope while working together to transform our reality with Christian values and social justice.

Joint Collaboration

ANADES continually seeks creative initiatives for families to break free from the chains and cycle of poverty that our neighbors and friends suffer. Programa Velasco is one such project and through the joint collaboration of parents and contributors, the program fully funds children´s tuition and partially funds a Salvadoran social worker´s salary in 2010. This solidarity and empowerment, creates hope for Salvadoran families and friendship between them and the international community.

Realities of Families in Centro Hogar

The families at Central Hogar are typically young (19-25 years old) single working mothers who sell products in the markets or on the street. During the 2008 school year, 60 of the 102 families have single mothers as heads of household. There are 27 families who have both the mother and father raising their children. Grandparents are the heads of household for 15 families. In general, adults struggle to find stable jobs or jobs that at least pay the minimum wage, which is roughly $180 a month. If someone works 25 days a month, they earn about $7 a day minus taxes. This does not even begin to cover the costs of an individual, let alone a family. It is estimated that there are 3 children per Salvadoran woman, not per household. With many mouths to feed, bills to pay, and jobs to find, Salvadorans are oppressed by economic barriers and a significant lack of educational and job opportunities. Poverty is passed down through the generations and becomes more complicated as the affects of poverty grow into a cycle that is extremely difficult to break free from.

The Romero Garcia Family

Susana and her husband, Rommel have three energetic and lively children. As you can see from the photo, the kids enjoy playing with the family's pet chickens. Ana is 7 years old and just earned straight A's this last semester. Her brother Oscar, 6 was a student in Programa Velasco this past year. In January he will be in first grade at the same school as Ana. Their younger brother, Christopher will be enrolled in the Programa for 2009.

The family lives on a plot of land that is shared with other relatives. Their home is one room with dirt floors with walls of sheet metal. Rommel and Susana work as waiters at a local restaurant. Their salaries of roughly $275 do not meet the basic needs of their family. The couple often has to take care of their niece and nephew. Their mother, Susana's sister is a single mother and unemployed. The children's father is abusive and does not financial support the family.

Susana and Rommel face many economic and emotional challenges everyday. The children are healthy, happy, and well education thanks to the extreme sacrifices their parents make for them. Programa Velasco has also brought much relief and opportunity to the Romero Garcia family with enabling Oscar and now Christopher to attend Centro Hogar. The Romero Garcia family and Programa Velasco are sincerely grateful to Hilda Peinado for generously supporting Oscar and his education!

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