Give An Education To A Trash Picker's Child

The new semester started on January 5 and the students enrolled in XSProject’s,  XSEducation program  have headed back to school. The day before school started, XSProject General Manager, Retno met with about 60 of the students and their parents. She handed out new shoes, uniforms, and backpacks of books, and other school supplies and talked about the importance of being good students and not skipping any days of school or missing classes.

This semester, in addition to their supplies, twelve Middle School students received their first bicycles. They also got instruction on the importance of safety and wearing their helmets any time they are riding. Each bike also has a lock so it can be secured in the school yard.  Many students in the area ride their bikes to school so of course, the XSProject students can now ride with their friends.  Thanks goes to several generous GlobalGiving donors for funding the bicycles.

Each semester, the XSEducation program supports more children and families. The pre-schooler’s move into the First Grade and new little ones join the pre-school program. At XSProject, we see positive changes in the children and the families as the students advance to the next grade.  No students have dropped out of school  and they are all hungry for more learning.

Your donation to XSProject through GlobalGiving has truly impacted this community, and given the families pride and hope for the future. We can’t say thank you enough.

At XSProject, we think our donor partners are pretty special!

We would like to extend holiday greetings to each of you and thank you for your generosity throughout the year.

When XSProject launched “Give an Education to a Trash Picker’s Child” last February, so many of you joined us to do just that – educate these kids!

When we started, we didn’t realize how great the needs of the children were. We began with the commitment to educate every child that lives in the trash picker community. But setting them up for success in life includes so much more! Your donations have allowed us to take up that challenge and change the lives of more than 60 children just this year!

We thought you would like to know how you made this possible.

1. At the beginning of each school year, XSProject gathers the students and parents together to give out backpacks filled with books and other materials they will need in the classroom. They also get new shoes and school uniforms.

2.  Two Early Childhood Development educators were hired at the XSVillage Pre-School. The very first class of 12 students graduated and entered the first grade in July. Twelve more children are now enrolled at XSVillage and will begin first grade in July, 2015.

3.  XSProject continues pay the education expenses for 42 elementary school students. Fourteen more are now in middle school. Four students just started their vocational training to prepare for getting a job. They are studying Marketing, Accounting and Administration.

4.  At the beginning of the school year, all 56 students received complete eye examinations. Two boys and 10 girls received prescription eyeglasses.

5.  XSProject hosts outings for the students from time to time if their studies permit. Swimming is popular with the older students, while the little ones like to visit the zoo.

Your donations make it possible for these children to experience what life can be like away from the garbage dump. They see possibilities and promise all around them. This is what breaking the generational cycle of trash picking and poverty looks like.