Pelina

 

 

   We would like to share with you the story of our special friend, her name is Pelina. She is 11 years old and comes from a family of six, with one more expected soon. She is the second oldest. They all live together in a small town called Las Maras, approximately 5 Km. from Luperon. Pelina walks here almost every day to sell peanut brittle and small bags of peanuts for 5 pesos ( 12 cents). She works very hard visiting the local hangouts to sell all her sweets before returning home. Some days she is here til dark.

All children, like many other Caribbean countries wear a uniform to school. If they don’t have one, they can,t attend. Some families share one uniform between two siblings, one going in the morning, the other attending in the afternoon.

While we were in the city we bought school supplies for Pelina, then decided to buy her a complete uniform. Everything, which even included undergarments and socks was under 800 pesos ($20).

Hopefully, she will attend school regularly with the loss of income not affecting her family too much.   

Her mom, sent us a small basket of limes from her front garden as a token of thanks, but seeing the sparkle in Pelina’s eyes when we gave her the gifts is something we will always remember.