Funding futures: the value of education to provide avenues of hope

Leading up to our trip, our group decided to fundraise money to help support the education of 12 Salvadoran high school and university students. In El Salvador, most kids only go to school through the 8th grade and then quit to help provide for their families. Many live in single parent households and are expected to work to contribute to the family income and put food on the table. For families that bring home an average of $7/day, education is a luxury that they cannot afford. Pursuing anything past 8th grade is considered higher education and requires a sacrifice from the whole family.

CEDEINFA, however, believes education is one of the biggest opportunities to help change the culture. As such, their high school and university student program supports a select number of students with their education expenses. Students must apply to get into the program and take their studies seriously to remain in it. They are required to share their grades and work with CEDEINFA team. This program costs CEDEINFA approximately $80 per student, per month. That’s $960 a year to fund a full year of tuition and related education expenses (books, equipment, school lunches, bus passes, etc.). Compared to our universities here in America, it’s a steal. But for the mission, it is their largest expense.

With a goal of $11,520 to fund the students, we had our work cut out for us. However, thanks to many generous donors and the hard work of our mission leader to spearhead the effort, we were able to raise $13,226 to date! We also had 26 laptops donated to the cause that we brought with us — 22 from a church in Columbus and four from a local company. What an incredible blessing to have so many people support the mission for these students and the CEDEINFA team!

On Sunday after coming back from church, we had the opportunity to have lunch with the students in the program and share the exciting news: their next year of expenses would be fully paid! Additionally, we were able to bless each one of them with a laptop. For some, this was their first laptop and they looked forward to doing their schoolwork on it instead of their phone. For others, it replaced a laptop that was duct taped together and on its last leg. In both cases, joy spread throughout the group as they each were presented with a laptop, backpack and more.

Throughout lunch, we got to sit and talk to the students. Thankfully, most of them knew some English and we could communicate back and forth. I had the pleasure of talking to a young girl, Marcella, who is 16 and in high school. She lives with her mother and grandmother, as her father was killed before she was born. To support her family, her mother works in a factory for 10 hours a day, earning $7 USD per day. Marcella loves to read and downloads pdfs of books on her phone. She has just begun reading Harry Potter and is very intrigued by the series. She shared that she hopes she can get the physical books one day and not have to read the digital files, but for now she’s just enjoying being able to read the series. Marcella has interest in photography and graphic design and is very interested in learning English right now. It was truly wonderful to meet her, as well as the other students, to see their vigor and desire for education.

Seeing the excitement from the students around education was contrasting to most young students I know in the United States. Students in America often aren’t focused on the education; they are focused on sports, hanging out with friends, partying, what they will do after high school and college, and more. We have experienced generations of education and a culture of wealth where we have forgotten the luxury that education truly can be. How refreshing to see young people eager to learn and read. I pray the Lord continue to keep that spirit alive in them and give them the fortitude to continue down this path of hope to a greater future.

MANY THANKS to every single person who contributed to the cause. You helped fund a future for a student who is eager to learn. I have seen firsthand the poverty in these communities; know that your dollar is going to a worthy cause that is making a difference.

If you would be interested supporting the cause or furthering the work of CEDEINFA, consider making a donation: https://www.gofundme.com/f/fund-futures-for-salvadoran-students.