Valentina’s Story
Meet nine-year old Valentina.
Valentina is registered in a local public school, but she has a developmental disability, and the school simply doesn’t have the resources, training, love, or patience to help her.
In public school, Valentina felt utterly lost. The kids bullied her incessantly. They laughed at her, called her crazy, and cruelly told her that she’s pregnant and will soon have a baby. She went home every night in tears, begging her mum not to send her back. Her mum, who is very ill, needs the support from the school to help with Valentina, but eventually agreed with her daughter and stopped sending her.
She does send her to Somos, though. It hasn’t been easy for her teacher Rosario though because Valentina has impulsive behavior problems. She pushes, hits, and scratches her companions. She is also slow to learn and still doesn’t know how to read or write. When she was in school, she was registered in first grade.
However, being at Somos is completely different for Valentina. She can learn at her own pace with patient teachers. She gets hugs and feels loved. She plays, runs, bakes, looks at nature, and loves to chat and share her thoughts. When she is hurt, she feels helped and supported. She feels such love from everyone at the Project, and that’s what she likes best. She tells her mother that she never wants to go back to school, but she does want to go to Project Somos every day.
Valentina has a long journey ahead of her, but she is someone Project Somos can help. As part of the girls’ program, she feels accepted and loved. She has found a place where she can be herself, grow, learn, and discover who she truly is.
Written by Rosario Morales
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