By Amanda Hall | Director of Development
Dear Friends,
This summer, OYE celebrates 20 years of impact and the community that makes it possible! Just a few weeks ago, more than 150 scholarship alumni, program graduates, teachers, donors, partners, and longtime friends joined us for a celebratory event in El Progreso. Amid so much uncertainty, it was powerful to pause, reflect on how far we’ve come, and dream together about what’s next.
The program showcased diverse voices that reflected OYE’s mission to create empowering opportunities for young people to overcome their circumstances—salir adelante—and transform their lives, families and communities. Among them, scholarship graduates—who are now making their way as professionals, entrepreneurs, and changemakers—shared powerful stories of perseverance and purpose.
We heard from Amílcar, among the early cohorts of scholarship students, who completed eight years of medical school with the support of OYE. After graduating, he moved to Copán Ruinas, a colonial town near the Guatemalan border, where he began practicing his profession at a local clinic and pharmacy. A few years ago, he opened his own clinic and became a homeowner.
We also heard from Francis, who first came to OYE as a volunteer, inspired by the involvement of extended family already active in the organization. Raised in a family of creatives, her natural leadership and facilitation skills stood out from the start. She quickly grew into a lead youth facilitator, guiding workshops on sexuality, gender, and more for young people within OYE and across the region. A few years ago, she graduated as a civil engineer and is now gainfully employed in this male-dominated field.
And finally, we heard from Emely, who recently graduated with an associate's degree in graphic design. She completed her internship and professional practicum at OYE’s creative social enterprise, CLIC, which gave her both rapid and meaningful entry into the creative workforce. Emely shared how OYE’s programs shaped her personally and professionally, and expressed pride in becoming the first in her family to graduate from university. In her words: “OYE means progress, growth, and the opportunity to become a better version of yourself. I’m happy and grateful to be part of this family."
As we celebrate this milestone, we’re filled with gratitude for our community—including you. Each story is a powerful reminder of why we do this work and what's possible when we invest in young people’s potential.
In appreciation,
Amanda
By Amanda Hall | Director of Development
By Amanda Hall | Director of Development
Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.
If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you can receive an email when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports without donating.
Support this important cause by creating a personalized fundraising page.
Start a Fundraiser
