Church protects young Salvadorean from gangs

 HEY-OYE recently sponsored a young Salvadorean who avoided being "recruited" by the gang (Mara) in his home town.  According to JMM (24), active service in the local parish allowed him to avoid further harrassment by gang recruiters.  JM's case is one of many similar stories of how modern day Church activism offeres much more than spiritual comfort to communities at risk (both in Latin America and the US).  JMM is now active in his Northern Virginia parish helping even younger immigrants to live moraly productive lives.  HEY-OYE facilitated JMM in obtaining construction service employment, while providing him with a laptop and mentoring from HEY-OYE's Technology VP Diego Vazquez (to learn programing and related social media skills).  The story of "placing carps in a larger feeding pond" came to mind, young minds placed in the proper environment grow and can fullfil their full potential.  Diego (33) is another HEY-OYE success story, he has a master's in computer science, and is currently completing his MBA in finance in Georgetown University.