Meet Diego: A Story of Perseverance and Possibility
At just 16, Diego* had already experienced more disruption than most teens face in a lifetime. After multiple foster placements and years of struggling in school, he was nearly two grades behind and beginning to lose hope. “I just thought maybe school wasn’t for me,” he shared. “I couldn’t focus, and I didn’t think anyone really saw me.”
That changed when Diego was connected to educational and emotional support services through Alternative Family Services (AFS) thanks to the Foster Learning Campaign. With funding from generous donors, Diego received personalized tutoring from a trauma-informed educator, access to adaptive learning tools, and weekly mentorship to help him stay motivated and build confidence.
His tutor discovered that Diego had undiagnosed dyslexia, and with the right support, he began to make remarkable progress. Within six months, Diego’s reading level jumped two grades. He even made the honor roll for the first time in his life. But for Diego, the biggest win wasn’t academic—it was believing in himself again.
“AFS helped me feel like I wasn’t broken,” Diego says. “Now I want to graduate. I want to go to college and study graphic design.”
Today, Diego is thriving—creatively, emotionally, and academically. His story is just one example of the life-changing impact your support has during the Foster Learning Campaign. Because of you, students like Diego don’t just get help with homework—they get a second chance at success.
Everything changed when Diego* was connected to educational, emotional support services through AFS thanks to the Foster Learning Campaign.
* Names changed to protect identities.
