Eva Peron

Hello, my name is Eva Perón, but many people in my country called me by the loving name Evita. I was born in a small town in Argentina called Los Toldos on May 7th, 1919. Life there was simple, and I grew up with my mother and my brothers and sisters. Even as a young girl, I felt a big world was waiting for me outside our little town. I would look at the stars and dream of becoming a famous actress on a grand stage. I knew that one day, I wanted to do something important and be known for more than just being a girl from a small town. That dream was the first step on a journey that would take me to places I could hardly imagine.

When I was only fifteen years old, I made a brave decision to follow my dream. I moved all by myself to the big, bustling city of Buenos Aires. It was loud and crowded, but I was determined to become an actress. I worked very hard to find jobs, and soon I was acting in plays and on the radio. My voice became familiar to many people who listened to my shows. Then, in 1944, something terrible happened. A strong earthquake shook a part of our country, and many people were hurt and lost their homes. I wanted to help, so I joined others in raising money for the victims. It was during this work that I met a kind army colonel named Juan Perón. Meeting him was a turning point that changed my life forever and set me on a completely new path.

Juan and I fell in love, and soon after, we were married. My life changed in a very big way when he decided to run for president of Argentina. I stood by his side, believing he could make our country a better place. The people believed in him, too. On February 24th, 1946, Juan Perón was elected president, and I became the First Lady of Argentina. It was an exciting and important moment. But I knew I didn't want to be a First Lady who just attended parties and wore nice clothes in the background. I wanted to use my new role to make a real difference. I especially wanted to help the poor and the hardworking people of my country, the ones I called the 'descamisados,' which means the 'shirtless ones.' They were the people I felt closest to, and I promised to be their voice.

As First Lady, I put all my energy into helping others. I started an organization called the Eva Perón Foundation. Through the foundation, we were able to do so much good for the people of Argentina. We built new hospitals so the sick could get care, and we built schools so children could get an education. We also built homes for families who didn't have a safe place to live. It was wonderful to see these projects help people live better lives. But one of my proudest achievements was fighting for the rights of women. At that time, women in Argentina were not allowed to vote. I believed this was unfair and that women deserved a voice in our country's future. I fought hard, and on September 23rd, 1947, a new law was passed giving women the right to vote. Seeing women across the country finally able to cast their ballots was a moment of pure joy for me.

My work took me to many places, including a trip to Europe called the 'Rainbow Tour,' where I met with leaders from different countries to represent Argentina. I was always busy, trying to do as much as I could for my people. But then, I became very sick. My time as First Lady was not as long as I had hoped. Even though my life was short, I felt happy and fulfilled knowing that I had been able to help so many people find hope and a better life. I passed away in 1952. My greatest wish is that people will remember me not just as a First Lady, but as Evita, a woman who deeply loved her country and never, ever stopped fighting for the people.