Few for Change

Sthephany is a hard-working, upbeat young woman who just graduated first in her class from primary school. There, her teachers noted her timeliness with assignments and her willingness to help her fellow students when they were struggling with a lesson. Sthephany dreams of studying math education in university and then returning to her community to teach upper school mathematics. She credits her mother and father for doing everything in their power to help her continue her studies, and looks forward to one day supporting them.

Olivia is bright young woman who is very proud of her Ngobe heritage. This pride was the theme of her application essay. "I want to fight and say that in our comarca (reservation) we can do many things if we try to reach our goals," she wrote. Olivia plans to help her community by becoming a health official and she understands that she must work very hard and focus on her studies to achieve her dream. Her teacher described her as positive, responsible, and observant, a quality which was apparent throughout her essay, but especially in her response regarding one of her favorite subjects in school. "One of my favorite subjects is informatica (technology) because it helps me to connect to the globalizing world in which we live and it will help me achieve my goal of being a health official."

A first-year Few for Change scholar, Emilia stood out among this year's applicants with her passionate and well-written essay. She told us of a French female scientist that had come to her village while studying for her geology degree, and had impressed upon her the importance of environmental conservation. From this experience, Emilia developed a profound understanding of conservation and how it could benefit her community, as well as a clear direction for her career and life's work. At just 14 years old, Emilia shows maturity, personal responsibility, and drive. Her dream is to create an organization in the Comarca to educate people about the natural environment, and to utilize and protect the services it provides for future generations.

A very difficult experience for me was: I didn't have school supplies nor a uniform when I went to school to enroll for the first time. I felt bad, but then I thought that school supplies weren't that important but that my interest in studying motivated me to continue progressing and not be defeated by the challenge. I study because I want to help my little brother and my mother when I am older. The challenges [in my life] help me to be more positive and to love studying because education is the best inheritance that our Father gave us, and it is the best opportunity that we have in life that everyone should take advantage of. When I graduate, my desire is to work as a nurse...and maintain family unity where peace and love reign. [My dream] for my community is to support them through knowledge and to offer them medical help, and for everyone else, is to teach them humility and the desire to overcome.

Ruth shows a wisdom and maturity far beyond her age. At age 13, she has already planned that "after University, [she will] give community lectures to teach the importance of medical care, and to reach these goals we'll need to have the support of both the community and the government." Ruth plans on becoming a nurse, though speaks about her dreams with great humility, accrediting her motivation and success thus far to her seven siblings, writing that "[they] give her the strength to move forward and achieve her dreams." We are so glad to have gotten to know and support Ruth.

Kevin elected to write his application essay about his uncle, a person he greatly admires. Kevin impressed us with the level of reflection and detail in his writing, as he took care to describe his uncle's specific achievements (which ranged from completing college to singing) and what they meant to Kevin. After he finishes high school, Kevin plans to go to college to get a degree in Agricultural Engineering. He feels this career path will allow him to provide his village with much needed technical advice.