Florencia Valentina Agustin Vicente (click to enlarge)

We are happy to introduce you to our newest scholarship recipient: Florencia Valentina Agustin Vicente! She is from a town near Xela, Guatemala, and Leslie and Christa were able to meet her and four of her sisters during their visit in November. Valentina will be 11 on February 15, and she is just entering first grade, along with two of her siblings.

Please take the time to read about Valentina and her family on her new page. For now, we will leave you with her wonderful letter to us as part of her application.

Valentina’s application letter to us (click to enlarge)

Translation: Hello, my name is Florencia Valentina, but I like you to call me Valentina more. I am 10 years old and I will turn 11 on February 15. I have younger and older brothers and sisters, we are 11 in all, the oldest is 25 and her name is Angelica. The youngest is named Esvin and he is 2. Angelica helped me register for school in January and I am going to study from 1 PM until I leave at 5:30 in the afternoon in Escuela Jose Ramon Ovando. This year I will be in first grade and I am really happy because I am going to learn. My mother and father will bring me to school and my sister Paola or my sister Angelica will bring me home because the school is 25 minutes walking from my house.

What I like the most is to read stories, like the ones my grandfather tells me. My brother Armando taught me to read. When we go to husk corn, my grandfather tells me how it used to be and how he grew up. I help my mother with cooking, cleaning in the house, washing my little siblings’ clothes and sometimes I grind the corn. I love to play with my brothers and sisters. I couldn’t study before this because my mother hurt her back and there was no money.

Thank you very much and may God bless you.

We’re more than delighted to welcome you into the ONE family, Valentina, and we know with the support of your family, you will go far.