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Scholarship Program
In Mexico, it is obligatory that a child attend school through the 9th grade. However, because of the costs involved in sending a child on to school, many families are not able to do so. Often, if there are several children in a family, only the boys are sent to high school because “the girls will only get married, and don’t need an education.”
In the summer of 2000, we started a scholarship program with five full scholarships to junior high school. In addition to transportation costs of up to one dollar a day to and from school, the students were provided uniforms, gym clothes, shoes, tennis shoes, backpacks and school supplies.
Since that time, our program has steadily grown. Thanks to a generous grant from the Reinhart Family Foundation through International Community Foundation, we were able to increase the number of students we are helping until, in the school year 2007-2008 we placed 215 full scholarships. In addition, we have a joint project with Club Rotario Todos Santos/Bahia de La Paz where a matching grant was obtained with Coos Bay/North Bend Rotary Club and Rotary Foundation. The Rotary grant helped 85 students to attend junior high school from Colonia Loma Obrera and El Centenario, but does not pay their transportation costs. At the request of SEP (secretary of Public Education) and SAMM (a department of the State Government to prevent violence to women and children) we also purchased school supplies, uniforms and school shoes for an additional 60 students attending junior and senior high school.
It costs $300-$400 U.S. a year to send a child to middle school. There is an additional $150 to $300 needed for senior high school. (The extra cost for senior high includes tuition fees and transportation costs as the students must take two buses to and from school.) Some students are able to obtain a partial scholarship (not including transportation) which is approximately 200 dollars. All donations to help children continue their education are appreciated: 12 USD will pay for a student to take a bus to and from school for one month, 25 USD will buy a pair of tennis shoes or school shoes, or a backpack, or some school supplies.
We have had several donors indicate a desire to send a special student to University or Technical School. We presently have 11 students attending a higher learning institution with sponsors who are paying their costs, with applications from four additional students who wish to start college in the fall of 2008.
We already have over 200 applicants for school year 2008-2009, all of whom have worked hard to obtain good grades in school. Please help these young students further their education in order to better their lives and those of their families.
If you would like to sponsor a child please let us know at jupete49@hotmail.com
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