Fund College Program for At-Risk Youth, Costa Rica

Happy new year from Boy with a Ball Costa Rica. We are glad you are a part of our movement and the lives we are shaping together. 

We want to take a moment to share with you a wonderful story which ended the 2017 year on an exciting note in our University Scholarship Program. This program exists beacuse we understand that the realities of a young persons socioeconomic background makes it difficult to stay in school.

This year, in order to give youth a small win faster, we revamped the scholarship program and moved from covering 4 year university level education to more technical/trade degrees (approximately one year and a half) which are very sought after in the job market. We partnered with the Universidad Latina which was excited to be an agent of change in the history these young men and women as they start a new chapter in their life and in the lives of their families. They waived the registration fee and gave a 25% scholarship to the cause.

The piece we want to highlight is that they are starting 10^th grade next year and will attend classes once a week which shouldn’t impact their normal high school studies. Why is this awesome? By the time they graduate, they will have their high school degree AND a technical degree allowing them to start working almost right away. Watching them sign their registration and seeing their excitement was priceless…they couldn’t believe they were sitting in a university classroom, a possibility that had been only something to dream about.

This photo is our starting point – the day they registered. Nine new students carefully chosen from their communities. Nine stories that which will for sure inspire many. This week is the first week of classes! (and more stories to come!)

Thank you for believing in this program, in the work we do through BWAB. Many hands and hearts work hard to give these youth better opportunities. I am always proud of what we can accomplish together.

We are still in need of funds for our program staff for 2018. There are the people who work day in and out, giving far more than they need to with their hearts on their sleeves to ensure that our programs, volunteers and youth have what they need to succeed. 

Please consider donating today. A $200 donation means access to programs that empower and equip for an entire year for one young person. That's just $16 a month. 

We know there are many ways that you can invest your resouces, so we sincerely appreciate every bit of support that you show us.

Thank you and make 2018 a year that counts!