| Dear Donor,
Mark your calendars! Because starting Monday GlobalGivings’ Little by Little campaign will allow your small donation to shine. April 3-7, we’re celebrating the BIG difference little acts of kindness can make to the lives of our scholarship students. We will be highlighting TWO recent graduates so you can hear the impact of the program on our Intibuca students. And we are setting a goal to raise 25, $50 donations that will provide 6 high school students with a year-long scholarship |
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| Every donation from our Shoulder to Shoulder community is an achievement because together Little by Little we are taking steps towards a brighter future for our students – so don’t forget to set a reminder for NEXT WEEK. |
Investing in our Scholars
By Mariela Rodriguez – Communications Coordinator
Robert, Yeimy and their family
As a new school year is quickly approaching, we reflect on our students’ accomplishments in 2022. With your help, 19 scholarship recipients graduated from high school in 2022. We are excited to have another generation of youth who are reaching their goals and defying the odds to finish their secondary eduations.Another great accomplishment in 2022 was our partnership with The Christine Merveil Never Back Down Foundation whose mission it is to sponsor underserved youth with vocational skills training, entrepeneurship education and establishing microbusinesses. Our first scholar recipient, Robert, received funding to cover barber training and equip him with materials to open a shop. His sister, Yeimy, was also selected as a recipient and is currently in beauty school.
Additionally, Shoulder to Shoulder provided the siblings with funds to renovate a business work space. Together, these two siblings are sharing a business to help support their family — which includes their single mother who cares full-time for a handicapped sister. Meanwhile, Robert continues to study on the weekends! We are happy to stand behind their family and believe in these two youths’ abilities, equipping them to build a brighter future for themselves and their family.
Click here to watch a video of this exciting collaboration.
We cannot wait for what 2023 will have in store for our students and this new partnership. We thank you for choosing to support and believe in our youth.
Preparing Professionals Who Give Back
By Mariela Rodriguez – Communications Coordinator
Students digging trench at STEM Center
We are now halfway through the school year, and our scholarship students have been refreshed with a package of supplies to help them finish up the year. Our scholarship coordinator, Nelly, continues to meet with the five colegios to assess any pending needs which not only include your typical pencils and shoes, but some students need more specialized equipment like electrical tools or professional attire to complete their internships. Your dedication to our students helps remove yet another stressor in completing their education, allowing them to focus solely on their schoolwork and graduating. And as a way to give back to their community, students conduct a small project. With Honduras experiencing a heavy rainy season, many places in Honduras have flooded. Among one of those places was our recently built STEM Center in Camasca. The scholarship students there decided to help solve the issue by digging a trench to redirect the water that was otherwise flowing into the entrances of the STEM Center.
The rainy season is not yet over and small projects like these help our young professionals learn that giving back to their communities, in whatever way they are able to, has just as much impact as the help they are receiving.
We wish our students a wonderful end of the year as our program prepares to graduate another generation of students who have prospered amid all the social barriers they face and that COVID-19 has thrown their way.
We appreciate your support to our youth’s education and for believing in their potential.
Student with tools given by program
Ready for her internship in professional attire