“It makes me happy to go to the project, play with other children and to have my parents looking after me.”
Leo (pictured above) is 11 years old and lives at home with his family. He has two siblings aged 7 and 3. His mother works making and selling piñatas and his father is a cook.
A typical day for Leo starts early. His mother wakes him at 6:30 am so that he can bathe, get dressed in clean clothes and have breakfast before going out. During holidays, he accompanies her to work at the market. Throughout the day, Leo likes to draw - his mother says he has already filled several notebooks and with beautiful drawings. He also enjoys watching funny videos.
Leo attends a Toybox supported project run by local partner CONACMI with his siblings, where he takes part in academic support and creative activities including reading, writing, maths, singing and guitar lessons. Reflecting on the difference this had made in his life he shares, “Before, my evenings were not so much fun and I was bored a lot.”
At the project, Leo says that he has made more friends in his community and enjoys learning new skills. He especially enjoys “playing the guitar and the reading and writing classes because I learn a lot of stories and learn in a fun way.” He also says that one of the most important things he has learned through the project is “to respect others.”
Pictured below: Leo with his family.
Leo describes one of his favourite activites as sleeping, but in his spare time he also enjoys playing with his skateboard, drawing and making minature piñata figures. Initally, Leo made the figures for himself, but they are now displayed at his grandmother's market stall, where they attract the attention of visitors because of their originality and detail. Interest in his creations has grown to the point that people have even offered to buy them.
When asked what his friends would say about him, Leo shares, "I think my friends see me as someone who is very quiet, but I also like to joke around and play football."
Family is really important to Leo, he shares "because they are always with me." His father, in particular has had a big influence on him, he continues,"My dad is my role model because he is a person who never gives up and always tries again when something goes wrong. He taught me to read and write and takes care of me and we play together."
Looking ahead, Leo already has ideas about how he woudl improve things for other children. He concludes,
"If I was the leader of my country I would make the schools clean, nic and mae sure children got tasty snacks like tacos. I would also lower the cost of things, especially toys."
Pictured below: Leo with his mother and siblings.
