IMPACT
FEBRUARY 2015
RELATIONSHIPS
DO EVERYTHING WITH LOVE
A
s the music CD spins, so do the
music. The dancing gives Rosa and Ale-
women. Their traditional Salvadoran
jandro an opportunity to exercise and has
ruffled skirts swirl as their feet move in step to the music.
“When we came to this group I could
Alejandro takes his wife Rosa’s hand
hardly walk,” Rosa said. “Through the
and raises it near his face, taking the lead
dance and exercise I feel relief … because
as they dance. The lines around his eyes
a time ago I couldn’t do what I do now.
deepen when he smiles at his wife. Rosa
Now I feel better. I have a lot of move-
gazes at him and gives a little laugh. She
ment of my body.”
tucks a few stray gray hairs behind her ears and twirls again, as she holds his hand. The couple continues to dance along with the other sponsored elders at the Rosa as she prepares to dance in a parade celebrating Unbound’s anniversary.
helped Rosa with arthritis and back pain.
Rosa is sponsored through Unbound but Alejandro is not. He joins her at the center because he, too, enjoys the camaraderie and exercise.
Unbound center in El Salvador. Spon-
“I have three loves in my life,” Alejandro
sored elders meet once, sometimes twice
said. “My first love is for God, the second (continued)
a week to dance to traditional Salvadoran
YOU SPOKE, WE LISTENED
SAY IT WITH A SMILE
In 2014, we asked sponsors to share their sponsorship stories with us. We received more than 400 stories about how Unbound sponsorship has changed lives. We promised a donation to the Unbound Birthday Fund for each story submitted. A total of $2,185 was added to the birthday fund as a result. Thank you to everyone who shared their beautiful words. To send us your sponsorship story, drop it in the mail or send it by email to outreach@unbound.org.
Sponsored friends love to receive pictures of their sponsors — it helps them know a real person is out there cheering them on. Skip the lines at the post office and send a photo to your sponsored friend by logging in to our website at Unbound.org/eLetter.
Activities for the young at heart
Unbound offices around the world support the needs of sponsored elders and create exciting activities for them to socialize, exercise and energize. Check out some of the activities for sponsored elders below.
BOGOTA, COLOMBIA: Every two weeks, sponsored elders in Bogota meet at the local Unbound office to exercise and make crafts. The exercises are led by another sponsored elder in the community. Elders who are unable to move about still participate in exercises they can do while seated in their chairs. Crafting activities vary from painting to working with clay, wool, sticks or other recyclable materials.
ANTSIRABE, MADAGASCAR: The Antsirabe program in Madagascar recently organized a free concert for sponsored elders, children and youth. They sang and danced together and shared their talents with those in their community.
QUEZON, PHILIPPINES: Elders meet once a week to participate in health monitoring and other activities. Volunteer paramedics educate the elderly on how to lead healthy lifestyles and advise them on health topics such as medicines and their proper dosages.
SANTA ANA, EL SALVADOR: Elders in El Salvador meet weekly to talk and dance. They do some stretching to get warmed up before they find another elder to partner with for traditional Salvadoran dancing.
(continued from front) is for my family and my third love is Unbound. … I feel this love because I saw how [Rosa] feels better.”
TRUE LOVE The couple has been together since
Alejandro and Rosa have been married for 43 years.
1972, but Alejandro noticed Rosa well before that. Rosa’s neighbor used to sell tamales, bread and coffee. Alejandro would visit her store frequently hoping to catch a glimpse of Rosa, who had no idea he was
which they shared with their children. Both Alejandro and Rosa had rough
“I finally found happiness,” Rosa said
childhoods. Alejandro began working when
as she pointed to Alejandro. “I found it by
interested in her. Two years later Alejandro’s niece trag-
his side.”
ically passed away. At the funeral service Rosa visited with Alejandro, and they have been a source of support for each other ever since. “She put her arm on my shoulder, and from that day to now I still have that arm on my shoulder,” Alejandro said.
fighting against poverty their whole lives.
Rosa and Alejandro are proof that being
“I finally found happiness ... I found it by his side.“
by someone’s side over a long period of
— ROSA SPEAKING ABOUT HER HUSBAND, ALEJANDRO
and that love has extended to Alejandro
Although they couldn’t afford much, their wedding was a happy occasion. They gave rice pudding to their guests after the
time creates real change. The love Rosa’s sponsor showed by supporting Rosa made it possible for her to participate in the elder program, and the community of elders who come together regularly. “I would like to add, for those that read
ceremony to symbolize the consecration
this message,” Alejandro said, “that every-
of their life together. They didn’t have much in the way of
he was only 12, and Rosa left an abusive
finances but had an abundance of love,
home when she was just 14. Both have been
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thing you do, do it with love.”
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