Scholarship Fund Goals

According to the United Nations Development Program, the average Honduran drops out of school between 2^nd and 3^rd grade (Informe sobre el Desarrollo Humano:  Honduras, 1998,  pg. 31; P.N.U.D.).  While 67% of the country can read and write at a high enough level to be considered literate, the vast majority is locked out of the world of higher education due to the base poverty in which they find themselves.

            Those who can attend and graduate from high school are a fortunate few who can later hold middle level jobs in banks, schools, businesses or government organizations.  However, those who can attend and graduate from the National University or other institutions of higher learning are those who truly become the leaders of this country.  

Many teens who do graduate from high school cannot go to the University because they must find work in order to support themselves and their families.  In Honduras, the majority of teens cannot afford to ask themselves, “What do I want to do with my life?”  Instead they must accept whatever job available (in a very small job market) in order to survive. 

            If the Micah boys are left on their own after graduating from high school, it will be almost impossible for them to continue their studies.  The jobs they would be able to get would barely cover living expenses, much less college costs.

           The goal of our scholarship fund is to support the boys as they begin their college studies.  As each boy graduates from high school, our initial step will be to identify the college that best fits their needs.  It may be the National Teaching University, the Technical University of Central America (UNITEC), or one of the other institutions of higher learning in Honduras.  Our young men also consider college choices in the United States and other countries in Central America. 

           Additionally, we help the young men to find part time work so that they can begin to support themselves to some degree.  It is important that they pay for some percentage of their education so that they will take ownership over it.

          Finally, seek other scholarships for the boys from the institutions which they attend.  Since the boys have done very well academically in our home schooling program, we are optimistic that they can earn academic scholarships if they are offered.

Above:  The older Micah boys visited Saint Louis University in Missouri in October 2002.  It was good to see them in a collegiate atmosphere and begin to dream about the future!

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