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Breaking The Cycle Of Poverty Is Kids' Work

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By MEG SCOTT

The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 27, 2008

Perhaps all children have an extra sparkle in their eyes during the holiday season, an extra bounce in their step, but none more than the 20 Hispanic children at Bread of Life Mission in Plant City.

In addition to their weekly tutoring sessions all year, these kindergarten through fifth-graders have traveled to see a puppet show, been Christmas shopping with their tutors and even have one day set aside for a "wrap" session with gifts for family and friends.

The money for the shopping excursion was supplied by their tutors, a group of home-schooled teenagers and six adults who meet with the children two days a week to work on their language and math skills, but perhaps more importantly, to give them the courage and confidence to continue their educations.

Pastor Julio Santana, whose resume covers everything from missionary in Honduras to schoolteacher and pastor in New England, states the goal of Bread of Life Mission: "We want to break the cycle of migrant worker poverty and lack of education to help these children, many of whose parents speak little or no English, to become productive citizens." Education is the only way to help, he says, explaining that when migrant workers' children arrive in the area, they often have missed so much school they become discouraged and drop out.

"Their problem is the transiency trap along with lack of parental goals," he says. "I've seen 12- and 13-year-olds working in fields, hired by subcontractors." After his mission work in Honduras several years ago, God opened his eyes to see that "I didn't have to leave the country to do missionary work. There's plenty of that right here."

Program Runs On Faith, Love

Bread of Life has been in Plant City for 15 years, just a small, brick house with room for a children's library, a large room for tutoring sessions and a small thrift shop that alone doesn't keep up with the cost of the mission. Additional funding comes primarily from a church in New England as well as the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Plant City. No federal or state money is available for the program because the children gather in prayer before each session, which disqualifies them from those funding sources.

The program's tutors leave no doubt about the faith and love that goes into the program. As one well-rounded 10th-grader, Miles Layman, put it, "I do this because I love the kids. That's all. And I get more out of it than I give."

Miles also has volunteered for Habitat for Humanity and the food bank, things he somehow fits into a schedule that includes tennis, golf, baseball, paintball and just being an ordinary kid. Like his older brother, an "A" college student, he has always been home-schooled.

What does he get out of the program? It's clear in the eyes of the three little boys he tutors twice a week, Francisco, Louis and Juan - love and appreciation.

"I can't be a kid around here," he laughs. "I have to act like a parent - be responsible so kids look up to me. I'm here for them."

Another home-schooled 10th-grader, Tori Kern, has learned through mother Barb, her former teacher, who also works with the program, and through extensive travel. The 15-year-old has the self-assurance and vocabulary of a well-educated adult.

"I found out when I was 13 that my heart is in Africa," she says. "I worked at an orphanage in Kenya, and I prayed that someday I could go back there - and that's what I'm planning to do with my life," she says. She has no doubt.

But for now, she says, "I love these children here so much. I feel like I have 20 little brothers and sisters, and I love to see the light go on in their eyes. "

Making Progress

The mission has grown to the point that Pastor Santana now can pick up the 20 children from school rather than from out in the fields. Most of the students have been in the program for two or three years. Several remain on a waiting list.

The oldest student, a 10-year-old girl, hurries into the room on a cold December day, her dark eyes sparkling. She gives me, her tutor, a huge hug, then hits the books for math homework. She won't stop until it's finished.

"You mustn't leave things half-done," she proclaims in perfect English and with wisdom beyond her years.

She learned English only three years ago. The wisdom comes from knowing poverty too young.

The sparkle comes from her hope for a future in this country neither she nor any of the other children knew they had.

Meg Scott of Plant City is an adjunct English professor at Hillsborough Community College in Brandon.

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