This year, we are supporting 44 students, from middle school through university, with high school scholarships. Since 2002, we have awarded over 280 higher education scholarships, of whom over 80% have already graduated! What have we learned during this time? That student success requires a holistic programmatic approach which includes financial as well as academic and socio-emotional support, with initiatives to strengthen the involvement of both family and community. This month, we are proud to highlight some of those initiatives. 

Academic Support for Aspiring Scholarship Recipients

Every year, Amigos offers the opportunity to apply for high school scholarships to all graduating middle school students across our seven communities. This month, our instructors evaluated 53 students in basic math and language skills. We test using a very basic exam, based on the national curriculum set by the Guatemalan Ministry of Education. Yet almost no students have passed on the first try in the 12 years that we have been administering it, demonstrating the poor preparation received in local public schools.

All students who wish to receive a scholarship will be able to participate in a five-week tutoring program in order to gain the necessary skills to continue their education in a high school outside of Santa Cruz next year. We find that, after participating in this reinforcement, the vast majority are able to pass the test. Once they begin their studies next year, we will also continue to provide nightly tutoring sessions to ensure the continued academic support that they need. This approach ensures that our scholarship students are set up for academic success. 

Stay tuned to our social media posts to read how many new students are accepted into our scholarship program for next year!

Students Giving Back to their Community

An important requirement of all Amigos’ scholarship students is the completion of community service projects, instilling the value of giving back to their community. This month, in collaboration with the local municipality, 34 scholarship students hiked up the mountain, in the rain, to plant 1,000 native trees and support reforestation efforts. Due to urban expansion, illegal logging and wildfires, the mountains of Santa Cruz have lost a great percentage of their lush vegetation coverage over the past decades, with negative effects on local health and on the environment. These students’ efforts will leave a lasting effect on their community, supporting environmental conservation, wildfire protection, contributing to growing economic initiatives in ecotourism, as well as offering students a hands-on education in sustainability.

Strengthening Parental Involvement to Improve Student Academic Outcomes

Parental support is vital to a student’s academic success. Over the course of this year, we have held a series of workshops to help educate parents on how to engage in their children's educational journeys and provide the necessary support they need to succeed.

The workshops this month were held at two local schools in Santa Cruz, and had a strong turnout from parents. This positive response is significant, particularly in a community where most parents themselves only attended school for a few years. They are learning that, despite not having had the opportunity for an education themselves, they can still support their children! Together, we can build a supportive community and family environment that nurtures academic success and personal growth for all of our students.

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