The Beginning of Becas Especiales: One Mother´s Love for Her Son and Desire for His Education... Has Now Spread to 78 Sons and Daughters in Uspantan, Guatemala...
During a visit to Monica Paulson´s Peace Corps site in Uspantán, Guatemala in 2005, a group of educators and professionals from Guatemala City visited a small mountain village about an hour and a half from Uspantán, called Laj Chimel. As the group was leaving, a mother from Laj Chimel hopped into the back of their pickup truck with her son for a ride to Uspantán. When they arrived in Uspantán the woman followed Becas Founder, Sherry Miller, to her hotel and asked if Sherry could help her son get his middle school diploma. The mother was a widow with no cash income. Juan, her son, had finished primary school in their village and is very bright, receiving high marks in all of his classes. His mother understood the value of education and wanted him to be able to continue with his studies. In order to attend middle school, he needed to live in the town of Uspantán and to pay, not only his school fees, but his room and board as well. (In order to obtain their middle school diploma Guatemalan students must pay quarterly fees as well as for all of their books and materials, and uniforms.)
Monica, Sherry, and Monica´s local counterpart, Greis decided to try to find a way to help. They learned that it costs about $200 a year to support one child in middle school, or básico, which lasts 3 years. They solicited help from family and friends and started with 10 students, including Juan.
Monica, Sherry, and Monica´s local counterpart, Greis decided to try to find a way to help. They learned that it costs about $200 a year to support one child in middle school, or básico, which lasts 3 years. They solicited help from family and friends and started with 10 students, including Juan.
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One of the things we are most proud of that makes our grass roots program so special is that there is little to no overhead for the project. It is totally administered by one staff member and a Volunteer Board, made up of a group of local citizens of Uspantán who give their time as volunteers in this capacity to help the children in their community. Sherry, one of the founders, supports tremendously by raising many of the funds needed to support the students, while the community raises about 25% of the funds needed.
Another unique aspect about our program is our goal to help our students complete their education. Generally we begin with a student who is entering middle school, because at this point they no longer have access to free public education. If the students maintain their grades and desire to study, we help them all the way through high school. Because of our dedicated students and the success of our Becas program, we have been able to extend our program to the university level. We believe that by running our program this way, we are truly helping these children to make a better future, not only for themselves but also for their community and country.
Another unique aspect about our program is our goal to help our students complete their education. Generally we begin with a student who is entering middle school, because at this point they no longer have access to free public education. If the students maintain their grades and desire to study, we help them all the way through high school. Because of our dedicated students and the success of our Becas program, we have been able to extend our program to the university level. We believe that by running our program this way, we are truly helping these children to make a better future, not only for themselves but also for their community and country.