Who we are and what we provide

The Sisters Of Mary

The Sisters of Mary are devoted to helping the poorest of the poor in Asia, Latin America, and Africa. The religious order was founded by Aloysius Schwartz, the priest of the poor. The Sisters have been operating charitable programs for more than fifty years serving children with the greatest need who have the greatest potential. In 6 countries there are 400 Sisters of Mary caring for over 21,000 children with the mission of helping them break free from a life of poverty. This is one day in the life of a Sister.

Your Support Provides

  • Hope.
  • Clean water.
  • Medical care.
  • Dental care.
  • Three nutritious meals a day.
  • A safe place to live and study.
  • Clothing and school materials.
  • Help to break the cycle of poverty.
  • Spiritual, physical, and emotional care.
  • Vocational training tailored to local industries.
  • Protection from abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
  • Opportunities to participate in sports, music, and art.
  • Spiritual, social, and academic formation and guidance.
  • Education for students that leads to careers or college.

Meet Yaritza

Mexico

Chalco

Hello! I am Yaritza; I was born on April 27, 2009. I have 4 Sisters and 4 Brothers. My father work is a farmer and my mother is a housekeeper and also in-charge of taking care of the animals, and so I was always left at home taking care of my siblings. Sometimes my mother sells fruit on the street. And in order for me to be of help, I often took the initiative to gather some recycled materials such as empty bottles or cartoons and sell them. Most of the time we experienced lack of food in our home and badly, my father has a vice on alcohol. We lack many things at home and yet my father uses some of the money in buying alcohol. Often times when my father got drunk, he often hurt my mother physically, and I can   remember how I and my other siblings cried every time we witnessed this. 

One time I told my mother that I want to study in the live in school of “Villa de las Niñas” so that they can spend more with my other siblings for their basic necessities. That is the beginning of why I am here. 

When I arrived for the first time at this institution, I didn’t understand how I felt. I was in shocked. I never imagine a school like this. On my first day of class in the workshops, I didn’t imagine seeing a sewing machine and a computer for me to use personally. I am trying to learn this different skills because I know it will be useful for me. I am also learning how to play different sports like football, and in the academic area also, I am learning how to draw, the principles of drawings and different kinds and groupings of colors, I also can say that I am improving a lot with my reading skills and the way I write. I have a better handwriting now. 

I am very grateful to the Sisters and to our benefactors for helping me and other children her in this school. I always include them in my prayers so that they may receive many blessings and good health. I am thankful because without their help, we cannot experience what we are facing now. I hope that there will be more generous heart that will continue to help the Sisters and the children at Villa de las Niñas. 

Learn more about the children

The children at our schools come from the poorest of the poor. Each child has their own stories of what their life was before coming to our schools and how their lives are being transformed by the Sisters of Mary programs.  Read the moving stories of our children in their own words. 

Meet Our Graduates

There are 160,000+  graduates from the Sisters of Mary Schools. Many of our graduates went on to live prosperous lives, helping their families and local communities. Read the inspiring stories of our graduates in their own words. 

Life At Our Villages

Learn more about how we help children break free from a life of poverty.