The Gift of Education

So, I get asked on a pretty regular basis from folks back home…how can we help you?  Is there anything we can give?  Finally, the answer is yes. 

The Women and Youth in Development Scholarship Committee (WYD) needs help raising funds for their yearly scholarships.  Every fiscal year, Peace Corps volunteers look for that superstar student in their site – the one with straight A’s, a desire to continue their education…and no way to do it.  The WYD scholarships give money to both aspiring bachillerato (high school) and university students for tuition, transportation, books, uniforms, etc.  Unfortunately, though all the applicants are amazing, the amount of scholarships that can be given is limited, because the WYD committee only has so many funds.  The scholarships are highly competitive – last year, out of about 120 outstanding applicants, only 30 or so got the money.

That’s where our friends and family back home come in.  Essentially, the more money WYD raises, the more scholarships they can give.  And you can donate!  Here’s the official spiel from the WYD folks: 

 Twas the month before Christmas

and all over the world,

children are studying

but where are the girls? 

The schools have been built

the desks and the chairs,

But the poor rural children,

how will they get there? 
 

Greetings from Peace Corps El Salvador on behalf of the Women and Youth Development Scholarship Committee (WYD). 

While basic public education is free, Salvadoran families have to pay for uniforms, books, transportation and extracurricular activities to send their kids to school. Many rural families, earning an average of $4 per day, struggle to put food on the table, thus de-prioritizing their children’s education. There are no grants or loans available through the government. 

Because of these challenges, only 36% of Salvadoran youth finish 9th grade.

Just 12.6% will graduate from high school. A mere 1.26% will go to college, with only 0.013% graduating.

On the contrary, 25% of all Americans have a Bachelor’s degree. 

To turn these statistics around, WYD El Salvador has been providing scholarships to Salvadoran youth since 1995 with the help of generous donors locally and abroad.  

The holidays are just around the corner. 

Why give another sweater or cheesy tie this year when you can give a gift that will change a student’s life? Just $25 will cover a month of educational expenses for a talented but economically disadvantaged Salvadoran youth. A gift of $250 will provide a scholarship for the entire school year. 

While you do your internet shopping this year, check out our website and make your tax-deductible donation in the name of a friend, relative, or on your own behalf. After making a donation, you will receive an automatic payment confirmation by email; forward us this email at wyd.scholarships@gmail.com along with the NAME you want the gift to be made in. We will reply with your customized digital certificate promptly to assure that your Christmas gift is ready on time; once printed and wrapped, it will make a heart-warming gift in the true spirit of the holidays. Feel free to email us with any questions. 

Give a sustainable gift this year.

The desks and chairs are waiting. Please give a student the opportunity to fill one of the seats.  
 

“Sembrar la semilla…para cosechar la paz”

 

Click on the website link to read more about the project and to donate.  Thanks in advance to everyone for contributing!