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Rights for Youth and Women, Scholarships, Sister Cities
San Vicente Scholarship Program Update, September 6 2006
CRIPDES San Vicente held its monthly Scholarship Student Program Assembly the 25th of August.
Currently there are 19 scholarship students participating in the program, from the communities of San Bartolo, Guajoyo, Las Anonas, La Ceiba, amongst others.
Sister Cities, through the support of the Philadelphia and Austin Committees, supports 14 of these scholarship students, with a yearly stipend of approximately 310 dollars to cover matriculation fees, monthly tuition, school supplies, transportation, and other costs incurred during studies.
The scholarship program supports youth from rural CRIPDES communities, who often do not have schools within their own communities, and most walk long distances to catch the bus, so they can study junior high and high school. Without scholarships, these students would often not be able to study, since the costs associated with education in El Salvador are prohibitively high for many rural campesino families.
This year, CRIPDES is designing a university scholarship program, with the goal of continuing to support academic opportunities for rural youth. Currently, many young people graduate from junior high or high school, and then because of lack of employment and educational opportunities, decide they must leave their communities. Most young people go to work in maquilas in San Salvador, or migrate to the United States.
This year CRIPDES San Vicente, with support from the SHARE foundation, has four university scholarship students, including CRIPDES regional organizers. The goals of the university scholarship program are to offer continued academic opportunities for rural leaders to strengthen their communities and the CRIPDES organizing base in San Vicente. In light of CRIPDES´ important role in community organizing, and most recently in protecting local leaders from arrest in La Sabana on August 24th, it is clear that developing youth leadership within CRIPDES communities is a top priority for the region’s future.
Please contact Sister Cities for more information on the CRIPDES San Vicente Scholarship Program, or with questions.
Remember that you can also help by becoming a sustainer.
