What does a quinceanera mean to you?

Our Quince Girls share what the quince project experience means to them....

"You become more responsible and mature as a person. Having a quinceanera is unique. It is a moment in your life that you will never forget! You get to have fun with your friends and family." Yizel

"Enjoy this special moment in your life because it is only once in a lifetime that you will be fifteen and you will get a to celebrate and have so much fun with family members and friends." -Jennifer

"This quinceanera is a special day to me because I am going to meet new friends and share my feelings with other people." Iran

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Quince Project Celebration 2014

QUINCE PROJECT 2014 MAKES QUINCES COME TRUE

WHAT: Leadership development and cultural program provides a free quinceañera to deserving girls. 

WHEN: Charity group Quinceañera celebration to be held on August 21st from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

WHERE: Sand Dunes Ballroom (11400 Rojas Dr, El Paso, TX 79936)

WHY: The mission of the Quince Project is to provide teens with the tools they need to succeed as young adults. This program helps girls embrace and celebrate their culture as they prepare for the transition into young adults. 

WHO:  Young women were chosen based on their leadership, volunteer and academic experience. Primary emphasis was given to girls who have overcome a significant obstacle, a traumatic experience or faced financial hardships. Girls committed to leadership workshops and service projects during the summer as they worked as a team to plan their group quince celebration. A team of Madrinas served as mentors throughout the process and volunteered to aid girls in fundraising and planning their group quince celebration.

HOW: For more information, email quinceproject@yahoo.com, call 915.219.8554 or visit http://quincegirlproject.blogspot.com

ABOUT THE QUINCE PROJECT: 
The Quince Project is a summer leadership program geared towards helping Latina teens make the transition from girlhood to young adult through a quinceañera celebration. Members learn about their heritage and the cultural significance of a quinceañera as they work in small teams to develop leadership skills and organize a group quince. The Quince Project aims to inspire young girls to take pride in their culture, self and community as they begin their transition into strong young women. A group of madrinas rally together to make quince dreams come true by volunteering their time and resources to contribute elements essential to a quinceañera. Community support is needed  to guarantee a special day for quince project members in the form of venue space, catering, décor and quince dresses.

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Quince Project Information Sessions

The Quince Project will host a new member information session for girls interested in participating in this summer leadership program and celebrating with a group quinceañera.

When: May 19, May 21, May 26 & May 28 at 5:30pm

Where: 10935 Ben Crenshaw #207

The information session will provide an overview of the Quince Project as well as the requirements. The quince projects promotes cultural identity, confidence and leadership among local teens girls. Young women are invited to participate in this free program which will culminate with a group quince party celebration. Girls will learn about their heritage and the cultural significance of a quinceañera as they work in small teams to develop leadership and event planning skills to organize a group quince.

Members will:
1) Attend attend an interview on June 6 at 5:30pm and an orientation session June 7 from 10am-1pm at 10935 Ben Crenshaw
2) Attend two leadership workshops per month June through August every other Saturday
3) Help with event planning for the group quince in August
4) Assist with fundraising efforts for their quince celebration
5) Complete community service projects

For more information, contact us at quinceproject@yahoo.com or 915.219.8554. 

Quince Project Helps Quince Dreams Come True

Latinas go through a very special coming of age celebration that is a compilation of significant events. The celebration consists of a grand mass, elegant attire, and an elaborate fiesta. But what is most important is the appreciation of the life the girls have had and will aspire to experience. The Quince Project decided to help celebrate the coming of age for three girls who learned about their heritage and the cultural significance of a quinceañera, while working together to develop organizational and leadership skills. We call it, The Quince Project, and we’re planning on keeping this project going for years to come. The mission of The Quince Project is to provide young Latinas with the tools they need to succeed as young adults. Our objective is to encourage young Latinas to become leaders in their communities, to foster cultural pride, to pursue higher education, to build life skills, to discover creative ways to express themselves and to develop a strong voice. There were three girls, Danielle …. Esmeralda … and Shaye …., who went through a specific application process where girls were selected based on their leadership, volunteer and academic experience. More specifically, a spot was given to girls who have overcome a substantial challenge in their life or who have a financial hardship.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Danielle and Esmeralda as they were getting ready for their big day. The girls came about the project through friends and family and were encouraged to apply. The girls learned how hard work, management organization and fun helped create a beautiful night for their big day. They both loved fundraising and working together, Danielle stated, “choosing the dress and shoes, and fundraising at Applebee's” was her favorite part about participating. We fundraised through various organizations, Peter Piper, Candle sales, and a pancake breakfast at Applebee’s which was the most hands on fun we had saving up for the big day. 

Through their quinceañera planning and journey, the girls did a little soul searching and Esmeralda noted the importance of “transitioning from a young girl to a young adult.” The memories made and treasured from a quinceañera experience are well worth the hard-work and time. These memories were also created through traditions that helped the girls grow and feel closer to their culture.  A quinceañera maintains worthwhile traditions that inhibit coming of age appreciations. There is the lighting of the candles where each spark signifies a person who means something special during every year of her life; the changing of little girls shoes to a more womanly pair to express growing up into a mature woman; and there’s also the passing of the doll, where the quinceañera passes on her favorite doll to another young lady who will soon be on her way to maturity.

The girls commented on what growing into a young woman and having a quince all really means, Danielle stated, “(it means) to turn to womanhood and be more mature, and being a role model to other girls.”

Esmeralda said, “It’s not just about more liberty, but having more responsibility for yourself and others." The girls reflected on their journey that created their quinceañera experience and understood that the planning and learning was all worthwhile, Esmeralda stated, “since we are young Latinas in comes with who we are.”  She added, "be grateful, because they’re (quinces) expensive.”

The girls also gave advice for families getting ready to have a quince in the near future and both decided that planning ahead is the key effort to attaining a beautiful experience. If anything, the girls wanted more time to plan, organize, and be involved in the process. The girls’ gave advice to all those future quinceañeras, Danielle stated, “Take advantage of every moment.” 

Overall, the Quince Project experience was absolutely amazing to say the least. All the help and efforts were done by the amazing  volunteers who make up he quince project planning team. There were months of planning, hard work, acting, loving, appreciation, and fun that created an amazing experience for everyone involved. All three girls were so very appreciative, and Esmeralda spoke for all three when she so lovingly stated, “Thank you for making a dream come true and all the hard work you do for nothing in return but to make us smile and have a great day.”