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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.
School Year 2015
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JOIN HEREOlivia 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."
School Year 2015
The most difficult experience of my life was when my dad separated from my mom. My dad didn't help me because of the problems that he had with my mom and to this day he doesn't help me with anything, only my mom has sacrificed to buy me school supplies. This has affected me greatly in life, both psychologically and emotionally; I felt sad without having my dad, I felt like I had no protection, I only knew that God loved me and would help me. The challenge that I lived helped me to think more positively and to study with more enthusiasm because life teaches us to face reality. This experience helped me to become a leader and to support other young people that face the same situation and to not give up in the face of difficulties. I like to study because I want to be different and an example for everyone else. After graduating, I want to work with my community with the young people motivating them toward a good path. I want to form work groups with the abandoned children. They need my help and understanding since this is the best way for me to support them because it is difficult for the authorities and others to understand their necessity because they haven't had this experience. The knowledge that I will apply is that which I have learned through my life experience and from my mom who is a fighter.
School Year 2015
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.
School Year 2015
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.
School Year 2015
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.
School Year 2015