Adriana lives in the community of La Palma, Nicaragua with her parents and older sister. Her mother works as a maid in the city, and her father works in the fields. Their house is far from the nearest road, but they work hard together, selling milk from their farm to neighbors.

Discovering A Gift

As a young girl, Adriana loved to draw. She sketched cartoon characters over and over, changing small details each time. When she was 11, her teacher asked her to draw something for a Valentine’s Day activity at school – and everyone was in awe of her beautiful design! 

That moment showed her that her art was special. Over the next few years, she spent many hours at her desk at home, drawing and painting. She says, 

“I love doing it (drawing and painting) because it gives me peace and makes me feel confident in myself. There are no words to describe how I feel when I draw and paint.”

Scholarship Program Brings New Opportunities

In 2020, Adriana entered high school and joined Rainbow Network’s scholarship program. This support helped her cover school expenses, but it also gave her a new way to share her art.

Each year, scholarship students are invited to submit artwork to be considered for Rainbow Network’s Christmas cards.

Adriana first submitted her work in 2023, and her design was one of three selected! (Pictured) She was thrilled to share her art with people around the world and help them celebrate the birth of our savior, Jesus Christ. 

By 2024, Adriana was in her last year of high school. In addition to her studies, she dedicated time each afternoon to teaching younger children at colectivo, an after-school tutoring group for primary students.

Hear from Adriana in 2024:

Graduation day came in December, and looking back, she said, 

“I am proud of myself for having excelled in my grades in high school, for achieving Academic Excellence, and for having the wonderful gift of drawing.” 

Her artwork was chosen again for the 2024 and 2025 Christmas cards, and each year her talent continued to grow.

A Bright Future Ahead

In 2025, Adriana began university in the city of León, where she is studying Public Accounting and Finance. She also hopes to study art and dreams of selling her paintings one day.

She thanks her parents and Rainbow Network for helping her discover and nurture this gift. 

You can share Adriana’s artwork with others!

👉 View the 2025 Christmas cards.

 

-Christine Williams

Marketing & Development Coordinator