Ánggelo Eduardo Pérez Cotorett was one of our most committed seniors. He participated in our General Studies curriculum as opposed to the Vocational Tech course in Metal Mechanics because, after graduation, he plans to attend a local university and become a computer engineer.

In addition to being a part of the first graduating class of the Center, Anggelo also played on the Center’s soccer team and was the lead dancer in the Center’s traditional dance team. He shared that he loved our dance team because it helped him learn more about and connect with the Ecuadorian culture since he and his family are Venezuelan refugees.

Ánggelo and his family – including brothers David, age ten, and Josué, age three – have been members of our “Family of Families” since 2018. The Center has become the hub of their family life and a great resource in so many areas, with food and medical care being at the top of the list.

When asked about the Center, Anggelo shared that, “Being Venezuelan in Ecuador can cause issues in receiving medical care, but at the Center, if we need help, there is always someone to support us. And, especially since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the meals program has been critical. My mom continues to have difficulty finding a job and we recently had to move into a smaller apartment to help cut costs. So, the food kits that the Center has been providing have been a huge help!”