GUATEMALA SCHOLARSHIPS

Progresa Friends Scholarship program in Guatemala
2016

Getting started:

"You might wonder, how did this program get started and how is it financed? Progresa is a joint program between Guatemala Friends Meeting and Redwood Forest Friends Meeting in Santa Rosa, California. In 1973 one member of the Friends Meeting in Antigua asked the Meeting to help their maid go to school. The next year they sponsored a few more and it grew into a scholarship program for Guatemala students, mostly indigenous students in high school and beyond. They focus on fields that will help to develop their communities, such as, education, engineering, medicine, etc. About 100 students are given scholarships each year. The program is now headed by one of their graduates, Miguel Costop. The program is funded by the efforts of many North Americans, mostly from California, Oregon, and Wisconsin, under the care of Redwood Forest Friends Meeting in Santa Rose, California. Funds are solicited from Quaker donors and raised by selling Guatemalan handicrafts at various Quaker gatherings in the U.S. and around the world."

Progresa-Spring-Update-2019 

Of course the Coronavirus is taking its toll in Guatemala as it is around the world. The Redwood Forest Friends Meeting gave an update on efforts to support the students as the educational programs are interrupted.

IMPACT OF PANDEMIC ON QUATEMALA FRIENDS SCHOLRSHIP PROGRAM Progresa

"The report is that the impact on the Progresa program was that all classes in real time were suspended at colleges as well as education at all levels as was public transportation in the country.. Progresa students were required to return to their communities. That meant that’s some students who live in scattered areas that were hours away were left “trapped and alone” unable to reach home and without funds for living for weeks in cities.

Progresa decided that it was important that scholarship recipients felt cared about and they belonged to a community that cared for them---that sees and listened to them for who they are. By the end of March they organized three weekly activities so these young adults would feel accompanied and motivated. Each week organized activities to share their families, problems, and situations and interests and resources for themselves and their communities. (The board found that 38 of the 86 scholarship recipients and families they were supporting were in serious situations).
...
In order to continue being a program that remains supportive to the educational and economic situation to students from different areas of the country, they are asking Meetings to consider donating to this extra effort to bring lasting life choices to the poor communities of First Peoples." 

Information if you want to help out.

Thanks to Mona for keeping us involved with Guatemala Scholarships.