It was a huge change for me to come to Montemira because my basic education was deficient. At the beginning it was very difficult for me, but I leveled up, making an effort and putting my head into understanding and learning, and I have been growing in knowledge in many subjects.

As an anecdote, a lady came to my house to make lasagna and I was very excited to learn how to make it, because I like it very much and it is my father's favorite food. When I came to visit the school and saw the kitchen, I cried with emotion and now I have learned to make lasagna and many other things. 

I love all areas of the school: academic, technical, and human. Studying here has changed me a lot because I did not see beyond, and I wanted to grow as a person. In that, the values that the school teaches have made it possible and Montemira made me know virtues that I didn't know existed. I learned to be more independent, after 2 years of living away from home, and now I appreciate and love them much more.

Andrea Duque
Third year of high school, 18 years old

Being at Montemira has been a very nice experience. My previous experience was difficult because in my first school I was a victim of bullying. Here I felt welcomed by everyone: the students, the instructors and the directors, and the coexistence has been very nice. 

Montemira is helping me to form myself as a person, to correct attitudes that are not good and has helped me in my spiritual life, even though I am not Catholic. It has taught my family and me to value each other and to look for the good and happiness for each one of us.

Adilene Hernández
Third year of high school, 18 years old

Montemira has been and is my home; it may sound strange. At first, I saw it as a school, a boarding school, and I didn't think we were going to receive classes on the values ​​that must be lived every day. I have learned a lot.

It has made me see life from another perspective to solve problems in the right way. My family has told me, and I agree, that being away has taught us to value each other more and they tell me that they are proud of me. I know that one day I will be able to help them and to thank them for everything have done for me to grow as a person.

Zaida Yaneth Ramírez López
Third year of high school, 18 years old

AlumNI TESTIMONIES

For me, Montemira means a lot. It is a place of love, learning, and teaching, where they teach you many values: faith, family. You meet wonderful people, whom I always remember and carry in my mind.

Sonia Rubio
Graduated 2005

Saraí is originally from the Department of Morazán. She began her studies at Montemira in January 2011 and graduated in 2013.

In 2014, she opened her own restaurant, Di Cuore, located in San Francisco Gotera, and in 2016 she won the Womed Award. In 2017, she received the Woman Entrepreneur Award from Queen Mathilde of Belgium.

Recently, she added a line of Mexican food in her restaurant menu.

Saraí Argueta
Graduated 2013

Jénifer is originally from Nejapa in the municipality of San Salvador. She graduated from Montemira in 2014.

After graduation she started working at the company "Avícola Salvadoreña", where she learned a lot about the processes of food products.

Looking to the future, she used her savings to buy an oven and start making and selling desserts such as alfajores, brownies, cakes, and donuts.

Currently, in addition to her sales of custom-made desserts, she is working in the production area of Fundación Siramá. Her goal is to save more money to buy her own house and expand her dessert sales.

Jénifer Najarro
Graduated 2014

For more information visit
escuelamontemira.blogspot.com

Checks made to American Initiatives for Social Development with the memo line “Montemira” may be sent to:
American Initiatives for Social Development
Murray Hill Station
PO Box 1670
New York, NY 10156-1670