While basic public education is free and high school matriculation is also paid for by the Salvadoran government, families still must pay for school uniforms, books, transportation to and from class, as well as bear the burden of funding extracurricular activities. Many rural families, earning an average of $4 per day, struggle to put food on the table, making it even more difficult to provide for their children`s education. No student loans are available through the government.
Furthermore, the gap between rich and poor citizens, within both developed and developing nations, is growing, according to the UNDP 2007 report. While the richest two percent of the world's adult population owns more than half of global household wealth, over a billion people worldwide in 2007 had an income equivalent of a dollar a day or less (UNDP Report 2007). Thus, for more than a billion people worldwide, education has become a privilege instead of an inherent right.
Of Salvadoran youth,
• 48% aged 15-24 attend school
• 88% of those who study belong to the upper-class
• 40% say they are optimistic for a better future
• 50% live on a disposable income of less than $2/day
On graduation rates:
• 36% of Salvadoran youth who are studying finish 9th grade
• Only 12.6% will graduate from high school
• 1.26% of those will study in college
• 0.013% will graduate from college
• 25% of all Americans have a Bachelor’s degree
Of the 52% of Salvadoran youth aged 15-24 who are not studying at any level,
• Some work as farm hands picking coffee, cutting sugarcane, and growing corn for $5 per day
• Some work 12-hour days in clothing factories for $50 per week
• Some work as maids in wealthy households far from their families for $4 per day
• 42% of youth currently seek jobs
• Only 36% of youth say they are confident they will find a job
*Source: 2005 Government youth survey from the National Secretary of the Youth, La Prensa Gráfica
For these reasons, a group of Peace Corps volunteers formed a committee with local nonprofit organizations to provide scholarships to poor, rural Salvadoran girls who without outside assistance would discontinue their studies. This scholarship program, called Mujeres y Jovenes en Desarrollo (or Women and Youth Development) not only provides the means for girls with the aptitude and desire to continue their studies, but also provides them with technical training that compliments their studies (under themes such as leadership development, women's empowerment, equality, and community development).
Northamerican friends and neighbors along with Salvadoran businesses donate each year. We sincerely thank those who have donated already this year, as we have met our current goal of raising $2400 by Labor Day.
We will be continuing to accept donations in order to award an increasing number of scholars for the 2010 school year.
---
I always complain about how hard it is to afford higher education in the States, but obviously the situation here is far worse. It's so sad to see, as I see in my community, talented and motivated youth who will not go to the university because of money alone. My family couldn't even afford state school for me, but luckily scholarships are widely available in the States and I benefited from a ton of them. Salvadoran youth don't have the same good fortune. I am pushing one of the girls in this community to apply for this scholarship; she is one of the hardest workers I've ever met and will not go to the university without financial aid.
To donate to WYD: https://www.peacecorps.gov/
In other news, we swear in the new volunteers tomorrow, so it's party time! I also officially take over the Peace Corps/El Salvador theater group tomorrow.
Paz y amor!
No comments:
Post a Comment