"We work with the children to respect their peers, respect adults and respect their neighbors. All that, you have to instill in the child, but unfortunately adults have a different mentality," says Sister Floreny. "Values deteriorate, and therein lies our 'lucha'- to rescue the values. It is a hard struggle, but one that is won little by little," she says.

Sister Floreny founded the Holy Spirit Education Center 12 years ago because she saw a need for a Catholic school in an area whose growing tourism industry contributes to the decline of values. She hopes reaching the children at a young age will help protect them from dangers of drug addiction, prostitution, alcoholism, child labor and sexual abuse, all of which have become increasingly common.

Matt and I were able to accompany the children to Santa Cruz' nursing home and watch the children celebrate "Cultural Week of the Elderly." The children brought food and performed traditional and modern dances as well as poems and songs.

"Their work with the elderly is also part of their molding. The elderly live in solitude, and we go and take them food and spend time with them," says Sister Floreny. "It is a challenge to mold a youth to be caring and loving toward their neighbor."

--Mónika Lugo