New Group of Escojo Mi Vida and My Idol “Yoki”

My star pupil of Escojo Mi Vida and the president recently started another group of Escojo Mi Vida. As a multiplier and promoter of youth health now empowered in her community, Yokira has been working in the community of Los Portugueses (approximately an hour walk away). On entirely volunteer work, Yokira prepares and gives the talks to a group of approximately 12 youth. These youth range from age 10-20. She is educating them on the topics that I taught her in the same course and that now she has mastered. She gives talks on self-esteem, safe-safe practices, condom use, birth control, decision-making, HIV/AID, STIs, and more. She is professional in her courses, having fun with her pupils (some older than she is) while still staying serious when talking about serious topics. She is an incredible human being and I wish I could only be half as motivated as she is one day.

Not only did Yokira graduate this group of youth through the course, having them show their proficiency in these topics and showing their leadership skills so they can then share this knowledge with their peers and practice what they learned in class, she also teaches a preschool course for Tierra Prieta, she does her chores, she is the valedictorian of her class, and the president of the local youth groups in Tierra Prieta. She was recently honored for her work with Plan, an organization that works to empower and help youth succeed. She has made sustainable change her community and does not cease to amaze me.

Yokira wants to be a doctor when she grows up. I joke with her that some day when we are both doctors we will work together. It is only a partial joke; I would love and feel honored to do that. We will see maybe one day. For now I’ll just be awed in amazement in all Yokira does. Yoki is starting University in the winter of 2017 and I can’t wait to see what she does next.