Child to 
Change
Maker

“Many people, like me, might not know Canadian donors personally, but we do know they have changed our lives,” says José Luis Dubón López.

In the Chalatenango region of El Salvador, children who once had no path to higher education now compete in national robotics competitions. Former sponsored children become mayors and community leaders. The changes here didn’t happen overnight – they’re the result of decades of investment in people, not just programs.

Dubón López embodies this evolution. The former police officer is now a Plan International El Salvador staff member. He was also once a sponsored child, supported by a Canadian donor who never knew how profoundly the experience would shape his future.

“Our community has broken through significant barriers,” says Dubón López. “Previously, many parents hadn’t attended school and saw little value in their children’s education. When Plan provided notebooks, uniforms and encouragement to study, it lifted the financial burden and transformed parents’ attitudes overnight.”

Today’s challenges run deeper. “Social issues and violence still prevent young people from pursuing education,” Dubón López acknowledges. “Our role is empowering children and their families to make informed choices about their futures.”

Martín Leiva is another former sponsored child who is serving his community. As mayor of this 118,000-person municipality in the northern part of the country, he says his sponsorship experience helped him imagine a different future for himself.

“I never envisioned myself in this position, responsible for creating opportunities for our community’s children,” Leiva admits. “Perhaps one of these children will become president, a representative in Congress or our next mayor. I believe they’ll carry the same grassroots commitment that I feel every day.”

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When robots meet reality

When Plan International Canada’s board of directors visited El Salvador in May, they found Dubón López implementing something that might surprise donors back home: robotics programs in rural schools.

But this isn’t a simple case of technology in schools. In a country where 3 out of 4 high school graduates don’t continue higher education (often due to poverty, lack of infrastructure or insufficient academic preparation), these STEAM programs (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) are opening doors in education that previously had been sealed shut in El Salvador.

Fourteen-year-old Abigail beams with pride as she describes her recent third-place finish at a national robotics competition. “I love robotics – it helps me learn about science and technology, setting me up for the future,” she says. “My parents are very proud and supportive because they know it will help me create a better future for myself.”

Her infectious confidence and ambition reflect the kinds of transformations that Dubón López regularly witnesses in his work.

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The dads who show up

Plan projects in this area aren’t just supporting children – they’re influencing families. Francisco, whose daughter participates in Plan’s Integrated Early Childhood Care Circle, reflects on how his approach to fatherhood differs dramatically from his own childhood.

“I’ve learned so much through this program,” he says. “As dads, it’s important that we spend time with our children and share the responsibility of taking care of them.”

Francisco is one of 100 parents who participate in the project alongside their children. Together, they’re building a brighter future in their community.

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The entrepreneur’s dream

Plan’s impact extends beyond Chalatenango’s robotics labs. In Morazán, the MujerES project is helping women like Doris start their own businesses.

“When I started the program, I was the only participant who wasn’t an entrepreneur,” Doris recalls. “Eventually, I shared the idea with my brother to start a small pupusería [a small eatery that sells pupusas, El Salvador’s national dish]. He supported me in finding rental space, and now we own this business together.”

Doris is one of 180 women who’ve learned how to start and grow small businesses. Meanwhile, 62 men have taken part in sessions on how to be more supportive partners and caregivers as part of the project. And 204 children are being looked after in safe, welcoming spaces while their parents take part in the project’s activities.

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Change in action

For Plan International Canada CEO Lindsay Glassco, seeing this level of community transformation first-hand was powerful. “The participants are deeply involved in the design of programs, which are then implemented by local partners and community leaders,” she observed during the visit, which included stops in La Libertad, Chalatenango, Morazán, Cuscatlán and San Salvador.

“The level of change here has left a strong impression on me,” adds Glassco. “This isn’t just about transforming an individual’s life – it’s about creating ripple effects that uplift families, strengthen communities and, ultimately, reshape the future of the country.”

Board member Rania Llewelyn was especially moved by how the approach is built to last. “Plan’s projects tackle the root causes of inequality, not just its symptoms, and they are grassroots efforts,” she notes. “The seeds are being planted, and these communities are going to sustain their growth into the future. Mayor Leiva saw the benefits of the programs Plan provided for him, and now he’s paying it forward.”

The board returned to Canada having witnessed not just projects in action but a fundamental truth: When you invest in people and communities, the returns compound in ways that extend far beyond what any single activity could achieve.

Dubón López captures this beautifully: “Many children like me have overcome barriers like growing up in remote areas without access to transportation or schools. Now we’re helping other children reach their dreams.”