Jorje hopes high school is in his future

Jorje is 10 years old and in the fifth grade at Jatari Campesino primary school. When he isn’t in class, Jorje likes the same things as other kids all over the world. “I like to spend time with my friends and play games. I have a lot of fun with my friends,” says Jorje. His favorite game is soccer.

At school, Jorje likes writing and English language class the best, because he wants to learn to speak English well so he can visit other countries like America. When he grows up, he wants to get a good job so he can help his community, but he worries he will have to move to the nearby city, Riobamba, in order to find work.

Jorje’s community is very small. There are only 320 people in his village. Because it’s so small, there aren’t enough services to help people. “In our community we need more jobs and money. Everybody has to go to the city to work and they don’t stay here,” says Jorje.

Jorje especially misses his father, who works in the city and sends money home to his family. “My dad has to work in the city all the time and comes home on the weekends only.”

Education is a major challenge Jorje sees in his future. There is no high school near his village. If he wants to finish his education and get the job he wants, he will need to find the money to move away from his family to the city, which he doesn’t want to do. He hopes a good high school will be built in a town nearby.

According to Jorje, it’s up to each individual to help make the world a better place. He believes that change starts by helping poor children get good quality educations, but that young people need to be committed to going to school and studying hard. Jorje’s one message to other kids is: “You must work in your community to help other children and be responsible for completing your schooling.”