Before I tell you about the final days I want to tell you a bit more about two amazing people we have worked with day in day out.
Jaimet Jai is superwoman based on everything she fits into her life. She is the Alumni Coordinator at Ensena and the driving force behind why there was a project in the first place. She is originally from Venezuela and has a Masters degree in history and social science. She came to Argentina for a better life and found her social purpose with Ensena. She is so committed to the cause and deeply passionate about closing the educational gap and providing a high quality education to all children in Argentina. When she isnt in the office she is finishing her PhD in sociology and by the end of this year will hope to finish. We can then call her Dr. Jaimet. Beyond Ensena and studying she loves ballroom dancing and practices three nights a week (9-11pm) and with her partner dances at competition level. You would think all that would wear you out but she has high energy, an infectious and warm personality and is always smiliing. I am pleased to know she is now my friend for life. I dont think Jai realizes it because she is so humble but she is one of Ensenas shining lights and a true social leader. |
Julietta Juli is our project assistant and translator for this sabbatical assignment. She is a millenial and a breath of fresh air. She is doing a double degree in international studies and political science at the University of Buenos Aires and is third generation (or more) Argentinian. Apart from the most wicked laugh and sense of humour she is a walking encyclopedia on Argentine history so any monument, square or park we walked past she would tell us the history. Not only that but if she felt she didnt have time to tell us enough she would send an email with an udpate and photos including a bonus track of interesting extra information. So knowledgeable for a 26 year old. Her English is perfect and she also speaks fluent French (although she will tell you its not fluent - also a very humble person). When she isnt helping us translate documents or guiding us through language barriers in our stakeholder interviews she is either studying for university or looking after her 90+ grandmother. They have a very special relationship having spent a lot of time when she was young with her grandmother while her single mother studied and became a doctor. Juli cooks dinner every night for her Mum and Grandmother and they sit down together at 10pm when her Mum comes home from the hospital and eat together. A family of very strong and intelligent women. |
Here is a bonus track for my readers.......Juli knows the Pope personally and has also had an audience with him in Rome. As you know Pope Francis is from Argentina and before he was Pope he was Father Jorge at Juli's church. Her Mum was his doctor and they have known him since she was a little girl. Many years ago he promised to marry Juli so when she met him in Rome last year she reminded him of the promise, he told her he was a little busy now and maybe he would only be able to bless her papers but she told him a promise is a promise. So, we are all hoping to get an invite to the vatican in the next few years to attend Juli's wedding. No pressure Juli :)
Here is a little photo tribute to two very special people I now have the privilege of calling friend
Here is a little photo tribute to two very special people I now have the privilege of calling friend