Jeanette began volunteering with Allies in April 2025. She had always cared for children in her church but had never worked with children outside that circle. When she speaks about her role, she says these encounters were an answer to prayer. She had asked God to show her His calling, and soon after, she found herself serving with Allies. Since then, Jeanette has been present at every meeting, helping to organize and guide the children. Seeing how many of them struggle with reading and writing, she began working with them three times a week. With tears of joy, she says it is one of the greatest blessings to see her time and care make a difference.

One of the children Jeanette has been working closely with is Beatriz, a 7-year-old girl with clear developmental delays but no formal diagnosis. Before meeting the volunteers, Beatriz had never been to daycare or school. She could not hold a pencil, draw, or stay seated for more than a few minutes. Since April, she has been gently introduced to preschool preparation with the volunteers. By June, small but meaningful changes began to show: she learned to hold a pencil, started coloring within the lines, and began to understand that drawings have boundaries and tasks have goals.

Today, Beatriz continues to attend all the meetings and activities. She can now sit for longer periods, follow along with lessons, and is on her way to writing her own name. For Jeanette and the other volunteers, these are remarkable steps, proof that patience and love bring real growth. The next hope is to encourage Beatriz’s mother to enroll her in school so she can continue to build her future. We are deeply thankful for those who support this work in Brazil, making it possible for children like Beatriz to take their first steps toward learning and independence.