THE GUATEMALA FRIENDS SCHOLARHIP/LOAN PROGRAM
-PROGRESA-
Promoting
education and community development!
Who
we are
The Guatemalan Scholarship/Loan Program was founded by members of Guatemala’s
small un-programmed Quaker meeting in 1973. Over the decades the program
has grown from supporting one student in 1973 to supporting 114 university
and secondary school students in 2008. The program is jointly sponsored
by the Guatemala Friends Monthly Meeting and the Redwood Forest Friends
Meeting in Santa Rosa, California. We receive financial support from
a small number of Quaker meetings and a large number of Quaker and non-Quaker
friends.
Who we help
All of our students come from very poor families. Over 90% are Maya
and the majority grew up in very rural areas of the country. We support
their higher education at public and private institutions within Guatemala.
Very few of our students are able to obtain a higher education in their
home communities. Some travel long distances in order to attend special
“weekend programs”. Others must leave their families and
pay for room and board closer to the university.
Sometimes they are working and are able to pay part of their expenses
themselves. Sometimes their families are able to provide limited financial
assistance. Often, however, they need us to cover all their expenses.
We meet each student's specific financial needs using a combination
of scholarships and loans.
There is much more information, and how to contribute,
on our website listed above.
