She’s 13 years old and as you can see, she’s a pretty cute kid.
Juliana’s family is from the Philippines but she lives in Jerusalem with her mother who is a foreign worker. They live in a three room apartment shared with two other families. Juliana last saw her father when she was five years old, but two years ago he died in the Philippines.
Today, Juliana’s future doesn’t seem very hopeful. Her family is poor and they have very few rights in their adopted homeland. But, there is one thing that puts a big smile on Juliana’s face and that is her Big Sister who was introduced to her by Big Brothers, Big Sisters in Jerusalem. “Bigs” are dedicated volunteers who have taken a strong interest in helping a child like Juliana and together they explore the world and create meaningful connections.
One of the experiences Juliana was able to share with her “Big” was a rock climbing event where the professional staff noticed Juliana’s extraordinary skill in climbing and extreme sports. They suggested she could excel with some training and guidance.
One problem—the year of training costs almost 3,000 shekels (a little more than $750)—a sum which Juliana’s mom could never afford. When the social worker asked if we could help, we of course said we would try. Can you help us help Juliana to learn to rock climb? Who knows what other mountains she will be able to conquer after a year of training?
