Higher education for indigenous students in Mexico

You help them find their wings, but then they fly away.  One of the harder parts of the work we do at Centro de Compartimiento (CDC) is when the students are done with their stay at the program and decide to move one.  Many of our students live with us for three to five years and although the goal is to get them out and be a productive serving member of the community it is emotional to let them go.   These past few months we have had two long term participants of the Centro De Compartimiento Program leave the program to start their lives in the community.  Both had been with CDC for seven years and the joy of seeing them take the next step is tinged with the sadness of loss.  

Naty came to us over seven years ago to study high school from a remote rural area.  She was the first in her family to attend high school and since that time her brother has followed in her footsteps.  Her older sister was the one to start her on her path as her father did not consider it worth while to educate a girl who was "just going to get married and raise kids".   She completed high school with CDC and decided to enter a nursing program.  Over the years she grew to find her purpose in life and began to change her relationship with her father for the better.  If high school was a hard pill for her father to swallow, college was even more difficult, but her top grades and dedication convinced him. Last summer she graduated from nursing school and was set to give her year of service in the nursing field. All graduates in the health sciences must work at a state or federal facility for a year, and the pay is often very low, Naty was going to get a stipend of $30 a month.  She stayed with us for several months of her service and then found that by covering shifts for full time nurses she would get paid the normal shift rate of $30.  With several shifts a month and her scholarship she found that she could make ends meet and live closer to the hospital where she is giving her service.   We are so pround of Naty and the progress she has made.  As every proud parent or mentor we are thrilled to see her in the community and see her working yet sad to see her leave.  

For us at CDC we have the new challenges of a younger group of young women.  Last year the average time a student had spent with us was about 4 years, now with the exit of two older students that shifts dramatically, the average time a student has been with is about 2 years.  As we approach the last quater of the school year we are recruiting new students and preparing the ones who are graduating.  

Thank you so much for your ongoing support of our program that makes working with young women possible.  Today we all can boast of two more young women out and serving their community.  With each success we can open the door  to another young woman ready to change her life and make her mark on the world.  We hope that you will continue to walk with us on this journey.    As I regularily mention in my reports, we are an open organization and we are very happy to answer any questions that you may have, recieve any visitors and dialog about our work.