Stefania is seven. She's petite, blonde, and shy to a fault. She has the world's bluest eyes and smiles with her entire little face when we run, hand in hand, to wash our hands after a session of painting Easter eggs. She also has two sisters and a brother, one older, two younger than she is. Their parents work minimum wage paid jobs and keep them in clean, neat clothes - but the expenses of daily life are sometimes overwhelming. Stefania likes dolls and bicycles, and when she grows up, she'd like to be a teacher. But Stefania is also falling behind in school, because there's not much room for one-on-one time with her, in the classroom or at home, for homework - and she needs exclusive attention if we want her to focus and thrive.

Stefania is one of the twelve children that started coming to the after-school program dreamed and brought to reality by an extraordinary mother from the community this February. There's a group of dedicated volunteers, coming to school every day after the final bell (and on Saturday mornings as well), to work for three more hours with the children; they do homework, they read, they play, and they eat here - because some of them live in such precarious conditions that healthy food is a luxury, and who could help with schoolwork at home if the parents don't even have secondary education?

These children come from families with dire material difficulties, and most importantly, from families where going to school is remarkably low on the list of priorities. Most of them struggle with reading even at ages 9, 10, or 14. And their only chance out of a life spent in - let's say it - poverty is quality education, and constant, consistent help. They need targeted approaches to their learning needs, they need to interact with role models outside of their parents' circle of friends, they need to be taught how to interact in a civilized society, and they need to internalise how to be resilient in the face of adversity, instead of choosing the easy way out. There are a few people who can help, and in order for the project to be sustainable on the long term, they need, in turn, help. You can make a difference in the lives of what we hope will become educated, bright young adults in a few years, if you'd like to contribute any amount. All money goes towards the daily hot meals, educational resources and any ad-hoc expenses which help the children towards realising their full potential.