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OPPORTUNITY
SCHOLARSHIP

A Project Salvador Program

WHAT WE DO
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Project Salvador Opportunity Scholarships fund both high school and college scholarships for the young people of El Salvador.
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These scholarships not only provide basic life skills, but also enable students to realize their dreams, change their communities, and help end the cycle of poverty.
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Since Project Salvador initiated its scholarship program in 1998, 426 students have graduated from high school and 56 of these have receive degrees from college or technical school. 
What We Do
The World Bank says, “a basic education has a general preventative impact: it can inform children and youth and equip them to make decisions concerning their own lives, bring about long-term behavioral change, and give them the opportunity for economic independence.”
 
Although both young men and young women have received Opportunity Scholarships, emphasis is placed on the importance of educating young women. There is no investment more effective towards achieving development goals than educating women, according to the World Bank.
 
When a young woman is educated, the skills, knowledge and self-confidence she develops makes it much more likely that she will educate her own children. She will seek better healthcare during pregnancy, in childbirth, and during her child’s early years. She will gain the skills, knowledge and self-confidence to escape the cycle of poverty. She will become a better citizen, parent and breadwinner. An educated young woman has a positive ripple effect on her health, family, community and society as a whole. (Source: USAID)
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Although emphasis is placed on scholarships for young women, educating young men is of great importance as well. Education provides an opportunity for a young man's future so necessary to avoid the gang violence so prevalent in El Salvador today. As one young man said: "I have two choices, gangs and death or education and life."

When El Salvadoran children are unable to finish their schooling, a wealth of talent is wasted and a country is robbed of its future.

WHO WE HELP
Doctor In The Making
 

Sonia, 24, was raised by her single mother who managed to put food on the table by growing crops on a small plot of land. Even though Sonia did her homework many nights by candlelight, she always achieved excellent grades. Ten years ago, she received an Opportunity Fund Scholarship.

A Brighter Future​
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Cristina hopes to one day own a restaurant or bookstore so she can help support her family after graduation. 

Uplifting His Family​

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Marlon graduated from high school as valedictorian of his class. Despite this academic success, Marlon had no plans to attend college due to the lack of resources in his family. Then, the Riveras heard about Marlon.

Why We Help
History Of Opportunity Scholarships
 

Jerry and John believe the best way to secure a child’s future is through education – and the best way to educate a family is to educate a mother.

About

“I don’t read and write, but now my daughter reads and writes. So now I feel like I can read and write as well.”

$350 pays for one semester of high school tuition, mandatory school uniforms, monthly fees and basic supplies.

The population with a university-level degree remains in the single digits.

50%

live in extreme poverty with many rural families living on less than $1 per day

25%

of those under five years of age suffer from chronic malnutrition

65%

of children work, in rural areas

35%

usually work on coffee or sugar cane plantations, or as domestic servants or street vendors

50%

of youth attend early secondary school (7th-9th grades), and only half of these go on to complete high school
Help young Salvadorans who want to attend and stay in school. Your gift will empower them to achieve their dreams.
Donations can also be mailed to:
Project Salvador, PO Box 300105, Denver, CO 80203
Your Impact
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