Life After Child Sponsorship—Kisaidy de la Cruz
At age 20, Kisaidy de la Cruz is studying to become a doctor. She thanks her former child sponsor for providing the foundation to build her dreams.
I live in Los Guaricanos, a suburban neighbourhood in Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic. Every morning during my childhood, I went to the Mauricio Báez Community School. World Vision built this school and paid for my fees, materials, and books.
Since I was small, I dreamed of becoming a doctor. I always heard about people dying because of lack of medical care. I knew that if I had the knowledge, I could help many people and save lives.
When I was 13 I began volunteering at the World Vision health clinic in my neighbourhood, teaching other sponsored children about their health and helping staff members fill in forms. Later, the Ministry of Public Health trained me and other World Vision volunteers to do vaccinations. We visit the poorest places in the neighbourhood and vaccinate people against diphtheria, tetanus, measles, chicken pox, and polio. It is satisfying to know that I am doing something good for others.
I have been studying medicine at the Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo for two years. I don't have enough money to buy the books, so I go to the library every day and wait in long lines to get the information. When I graduate, I want to work in a hospital as a pediatrician and have the opportunity to help poor people.
I want to thank my sponsor for her help. I am who I am today because of child sponsorship and World Vision. Child sponsors should know that their help is very valuable for many girls and boys.
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