Aridenny Encarnación Jiménez has faced more challenges by the age of 18 than many encounter in a lifetime. At just three years old, she lost her father. Soon after, her mother left, leaving Aridenny and her two sisters in the care of their elderly grandparents. Despite their love and dedication, her grandparents struggled to provide for the girls, let alone offer them an education. Understanding that their granddaughters needed more than they could give, they made the heart-wrenching decision to bring them to Hogares Teresa Toda, an orphanage in the Dominican Republic run by the Carmelite Sisters.
It was in this orphanage that Aridenny found safety, support, and a community that nurtured her dreams. For the past twelve years, the Sisters have been her guiding light, helping her heal and grow, but it was a sponsorship through CARITAS that truly opened the door to a new future. Thanks to the generosity of her sponsor family, Aridenny was able to graduate high school and enroll in university, pursuing her dream of becoming a psychologist, with a particular focus on helping children in need—children like her.
But now, just 1.5 years away from completing her degree in psychology, Aridenny faces another obstacle. Her sponsor family, who stood by her for so long, can no longer support her. She is determined to finish her studies, living with her sister and continuing to receive counseling and guidance from the Carmelite Sisters. Aridenny has been a model student, consistently achieving A’s and working tirelessly to succeed despite her circumstances.
Without financial help, she risks having her education cut short just as she nears the finish line. Her dream is not only to rise above her past but also to help others do the same. She wants to become a child psychologist so she can provide the kind of care and support that has been so vital to her own journey.
Your support could give Aridenny the opportunity to graduate and make a lasting difference in the lives of children who need someone to believe in them, just as she did.