Educate First-Generation Students in Honduras

Dear Friends of OYE:

Warmest greetings in the new year! 2015 was an incredible year for OYE, as we celebrated 10 years of empowering Honduran youth. And as if that wasn't enough to celebrate, we have some really amazing news to share with you!

Exactly two months ago at the White House, OYE received the 2015 International Spotlight Award of the National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Awards. First Lady Michelle Obama presented the award to OYE's representatives who flew to Washington for this incredible event: Executive Director Rocío Mendoza, OYE youth scholars Jefry Amaya and Claudia Pavón, and Development Coordinator Amanda Hall. OYE was the sole international program recognized among a dozen extraordinary national programs, all using art to engage at-risk youth.

What a remarkable recognition for OYE!

This holiday season, 23 young people have reached a milestone that over half of young Hondurans never reach: high school graduation. And equally exciting news: 22 of our graduates will be enrolling in the university next year with the support of our scholarship program.

In a country where over 50% of young people never finish high school and only 14% have access to higher education, 95% of OYE scholars complete high school and 90% of high school graduates continue on to university.

You make this work possible.

Since 2005, your support has provided hundreds of young poeple with the opportunity to finish high school and obtain access to higher education. They emerge as confident, skilled and motivated young adults who will contribute to building a positive future for all Hondurans, starting within their homes, schools and communities.

But OYE's transformative work lies not in the statistics, but in the personal stories of its youth.

Let's go back to Jefry. Raised by a single mother, Jefry is one of seven brothers and sisters. Despite the family's extremely harsh economic situation, his mother always kept Jefry and his siblings in school. In 2011,Jefry applied for and received an OYE scholarship, which eased the burden of his educational expenses. Today, Jefry is a second-year college student and the first person in his family's history to attend university.

In his words: "OYE is one of the best things that has ever happened to me. My family has limited resources and it is because of OYE that I was able to finish high school and continue studying at the university. I always think about what would have happened to me if I had never found OYE. It is most likely that I would have had to drop out of school to help provide for my family, maybe even leave Honduras. What I do know is that being a part of OYE has changed my life."

There are so many stories of resilience and hope like Jefry's; stories of youth staying in Honduras, confronting the turmoil that surrounds them and giving back to their communities.

Because of your generous and loyal support over the years, together with growing support within Honduras, we are pleased to say that our goal for 2016 is to offer 100 high school and university scholarships. (Just a reminder: For $500, you can provide a one-year high school scholarship; and for $650, a one-year university scholarship.)

With your help, we can reach and even surpass this number and ensure that disadvantaged, motivated youth are given the opportunity to discover their potential as leaders and pursue their education and their dreams. Can we continue to count on your support this year?

In appreciation,

Ana Luisa Ahern (Co-Founder)

Links:

• NAHYP Awards Profile of OYE
• Video: A Day in the Life of Jefry and Claudia
• Video: NAHYP Awards Ceremony at the White House