First, they took me to the DIF (state child services), and from there, they brought me here (to the Simply Smiles Children’s Village). I am here with my five siblings, and yes, each of us is better off here. I was five years old when I arrived, the age of my younger brother now.

My siblings and I are better off now, and I feel better here. I wish that all the children out there who don’t have parents could be here too, but there's not enough space. It surprises me that this place isn’t bigger. I always thought it would be bigger, but the size doesn’t matter; it’s the people and everything else that counts. 

There are children, for example, some of my friends (at school) who say they aren’t going to continue studying. They even asked me if I feel proud (of where I live and what I am doing), and I told them…I do feel proud of what I do. For example…when I was in primary or first year of secondary school, I didn’t even know math, but now I see that I've improved… I love it. Some people just have a different mentality.

I don’t know, I might not become a rich man, but even if I could be rich, I would still be humble…with support from others, we improve…and learn that our education isn’t just in school but it’s everywhere.

I’m 14 years old. I'm from a town called San Pedro Xochiapan in the Cañada de Cuicatlán region [of Oaxaca, Mexico]. I’ve been here [at the Simply Smiles Children’s Village] for just about a year and five months.

To start, a year ago—well, two years ago—I didn’t know [about the Simply Smiles Children’s Village]. I was in a place for children in Mexico City…run by a priest. I stayed there for a year.

[There] it was very hard for me because my communication with my family wasn’t like usual—I could only see them only once every five months. They couldn’t message me, call me, or send letters, absolutely nothing. They didn’t know anything about me, and I didn’t know anything about them. 

[At this other place in Mexico City] Sometimes they gave us food, sometimes they didn’t, because there were so many of us, and it was difficult to have enough for everyone. I faced some challenges there, which eventually led me to leave…

After that, I didn’t want to stay in my hometown because there weren’t many schools. They did have schools, but no teachers, so there weren’t proper classes.

I wanted to keep studying. One of my cousins helped me out and told me, “Hey, I know a place; maybe you’d like it.” I told my mom, who agreed, and then we went to talk to Gaby [the director of the Simply Smiles Children’s Village], who very kindly accepted me. We discussed everything, and she told me that they had a spot for me.

I arrived [at Simply Smiles] on August 23 or 24, and [Gaby] welcomed me with open arms. She showed me where I’d be staying, what my room would be, where I’d put my things, and explained what activities they do here. This place is the opposite of where I was before.

Here, we are a small group…we do many activities…

We have the freedom to go downtown, explore, and become more independent. At the other place, we were always locked inside, and it was only girls…

Another big difference is the food. In the other place, they only gave one serving, like one spoonful of soup, and that was all you got. You couldn’t have seconds. Here, it’s different. They give you a variety, and if you want more, you can have more. They also give us more freedom, like telling us, “If you want fruit, go grab some,” or “there’s yogurt or ice cream, help yourself.” [Simply Smiles doesn’t] limit you like they did there.

It’s also great because [Gaby] takes us to lots of places, like restaurants, and we can explore places we didn’t even know existed. We go on walks together, and we chat with Gaby along the way. It’s a really beautiful experience to be here. 

There are devices for our homework, like computers and phones. At the other place, there were literally no books, not even for research. Here, it’s wonderful because they give us that freedom and trust us to use a device, look things up, and do our assignments. They really care about our education.

Most of us are here because we want to get ahead, to study, and to finish school and have a career. It makes me happy because if we’re having a hard time, they’re there to talk to us, asking what’s wrong, and why we’re feeling that way. They pay attention to every little detail, and if something is off, they address it with us. They’re there to support us and make sure we’re doing okay.

One day, when I finish my studies, I hope to be able to give back a bit of what I received, even if it’s not much, just as a way of saying “thank you.” That’s something I’d love to do.

I always say thank you to those who are helping us. I’ve thought about my future, and I have so many things I want to study. When I finally finish, I’ll be able to say thank you, not just in words, but by giving back to others. That’s how I see it; if I’m doing well, I’ll be able to support others.

Many people don’t think that way; they have a different mindset. But for me, it’s about taking the opportunities that come my way, even if it’s challenging at times, and saying, “Yes, I’ll go for it,”.

The truth is, I don’t remember much, but I do remember coming home sometimes, and there was nothing to eat. I couldn’t complain because my dad didn’t leave us any money, and when he got home, he was angry and would hit us. We couldn’t do anything. 

My mom couldn’t leave because she had nowhere else to go. My mom, as far back as I can remember, was a normal person, but after a while, I think all the beatings made her sick. She started talking to herself, stopped cooking, and didn’t do anything anymore. She just lived her life in a daze, always crying. Those are the consequences my mom suffered from the beatings. My mom says that my dad claims it’s something hereditary, but that’s not true. I remember clearly that there was a party…my dad took my mom…outside, and my dad picked up a stick and hit her on the head. She started bleeding, and that’s what damaged her mind and her head. It wasn’t hereditary.

To everyone who has supported us and continues to support us, I want to say thank you. Thanks to you, we can continue our studies, and I hope that in the future, more children can have what I have. Thanks to the education (counseling) I’m receiving, I’ve learned a lot, and I’ve been able to understand and process why my dad hit my mom. It’s very difficult because I was only seven years old, but thanks to the people who have helped us, I’ve been able to understand these things.

Here in this home (village) we are a family, a team that supports each other. If someone strays, we try to help them understand and guide them so they don’t ruin their lives. We help them to learn to value things and put in the effort because not all children in this world have what we have. 

We are very fortunate to have come to this place and to have met Gaby. Gaby has helped us from a young age, helping us get dressed, brush our teeth, and all the things she’s done for us cannot be repaid. 

Gaby doesn’t have children of her own, so we are like her children. 

She teaches us to take care of ourselves, and she says we are like brothers and should love each other as such. She’s right because we should care for each other, help each other, so we can be stronger. 

There’s a saying that “the less you destroy, the stronger you are”. It’s true because we have always stayed united, and that makes us stronger. At school, no one messes with us…!

Gaby is a person who has shown us love, and you won’t find someone like her anywhere else in the world. She is unique. Gaby has taught us to work, to respect others, and to live with others. She is like our mother, and I respect her very much. I have never disrespected her, and if I ever did, I would always ask for forgiveness. It’s thanks to her that I’m here giving this message because she has taught me how to express myself and how to be grateful. 

I also want to thank Bryan and Kristen…They’ve taken us to many places, including tourist spots that not every child gets to visit. I’m very grateful to everyone who supports us. 

Maybe I don’t know all of you, but I want to thank you.

I’m now in high school, and I want to go to university and study psychology. I want to show my diploma to those who have sacrificed (and given) their money (to support) me, my siblings, and all the children here. You have been a great support to us, and even if we don’t know you personally, it’s clear that you believe in this place and know that one day, we will bear the fruits of the seeds you’ve sown.

As I was saying, over time, I’ve learned many things, and one day, I think that psychology would be good (to study) because there are people who suffer like I did, from abuse and violence, and some who can’t afford to pay for therapy. That’s why I want to study psychology, to offer the same help that was given to me. 

Gaby didn’t have everything overnight; she didn’t have the things she has now, and thanks to the support she received, she is now able to support us. 

That’s why I want to study psychology, because I believe it’s important to help the mental health of people who suffer and who can’t escape from their minds because they have things that harm them and don’t know how to get out. That’s my goal because it’s the only way I can give back to those who helped me and showed me love, so I could feel good and move forward to achieve what I want in life. That’s my goal, and I hope to achieve it. 

I know I will because when you want something, nothing is impossible. 

Especially in this place, where no one obstructs your goals. They say if you want it, you have to fight for it, and the last word is yours because you will work and fight for what you want. In the end, it’s not about material things; it’s about life, love, and health so that you can enjoy the material things. Having everything materially is useless if you don’t have life, health, or love because those things cannot be bought with money.

There aren’t many people in this world willing to support those who have little. It’s hard to be born into a family that has nothing to live on, so all I can say is thank you.