The Scholarship Program (1992-present)
UPAVIM awards over 500 scholarships(Becas) yearly that cover the cost of materials for children who attend one of the schools in the community and who might not otherwise be able to afford going to school. The scholarships for primary school and junior high cost about US$45 per child. Recipients in junior high are required to do volunteer work at UPAVIM – approximately 28 hrs/month, and all students are required to pass their classes to automatically receive this scholarship the following year. There is a committee of UPAVIMas that evaluates the applications. Tutoring is available at UPAVIM for students that receive scholarships and need help so there is no reason to lose a scholarship.
A second scholarship program is the Beca de Carerras, which began in 2002. It yearly awards a small number of scholarships to graduates of junior high with good grades to continue studying for a 3 year vocational degree at a public high school. Most of these schools are in the center of the city. The recipients are chosen by a group of UPAVIMas and other community members, according to their financial need and willingness to commit to service-oriented volunteer work in the community. Many of the teenagers who have recieved the scholarship are working together in a group called UNE – Una Nueva Esperanza (A New Hope) that meets in the the tutoring center on Saturdays. UPAVIM has awarded over 25 three year scholarships, which vary in cost from $900 to $1400 a year.
Both of these programs depend entirely on many small donations from friends of UPAVIM in the United States and other countries. In the past, UPAVIM has awarded as many as 600 scholarships a year. Thanks to everyone that has helped over the years and to those of you that continue to provide this support!
