Isaías Israel Ramírez 

Isaias has been studying at the University of Sonsonate for two years now, and has three to complete his degree in Public Accounting. He is from a family of three children, and he is the first to study at a University. His parents are extremely proud of him, and he earns very high grades. At home, his parents work with agriculture, and during his free time Isaias loves to help.

Lisbeth Noemi Osorio Ramos

Lisbeth is getting her degree in Public Accounting at the University of Sonsonate. She is currently one year into her five year program, and is the third daughter in her family. She received her baccalaureate degree from the TLAU complex in Santo Domingo de Guzman.  In her free time she is very helpful with the family, and helping her mother around the house.

Fátima Rosibel García Álvarez

Fatima is currently in her second year at the Modular Open University, seeking a degree in psychology. As the oldest in her family, she sets an example of hard work and success through her schoolwork and kind heart. Prior to Modular Open University she received her baccalaureate from the Santo Domingo de Guzman Complex.

The Least Among Us is proud to present four new scholarship recipients for the 2017 academic year.

JOAQUÍN  ENRIQUE PETER RODRÍGUEZ

Joaquin is 17 years old and lives in Santo Domingo de Guzman. He is currently enrolled in a five year program to study industrial engineering at The University of Sonsonate (USO.)
Joaquin graduated high school with very good grades, and wants to study engineering in order to contribute to the economic development of Santo Domingo and to promote employment opportunities for others  in El Salvador. In his free time, Joaquin enjoys playing football and basketball.

Scholarship details: 
Monthly Stipend: $ 49.00
Tuition: $ 50.00 (twice a year)
Use of Laboratories: $ 20.00.
Transportation Cost: $ 3.00 per day. (6 days a week)

MEYSI ESTEFANI LÓPEZ RAMÍREZ

Meysi Ramirez, at 21 years old, has recently graduated with a baccalaureate degree from the Educational complex at Santo Domingo de Guzmán, and has recently become a nursing technician at the Andrés Bello University.
Meysi is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Medicine from the New San Salvador University (UNASSA.)

Back at home, Meysi’s mother makes a living by creating ornamental mud pots and selling them in the squares and markets of the bordering municipalities.

Scholarship details:
Amount of the monthly fee: $ 60.00 (12 months)
Tuition Fee: $ 100.00 (twice a year)
Transportation cost: $ 6.00 per day (6 days a week)
Duration: 5 years

Isaías Jheovani Ramírez López

At the age of 18, Isaias hails from the town of Canton El Caulote. Isaias desires to obtain a degree in public accounting. The Least Among Us helped Isaiah to study high school, and his final grades were excellent. Well above the average grade point average, TLAU decided to support his decision to enter the university. As the second child of six, Isaias’ family would not  have been able to send him to college, so it is with great pride and joy that his family sees him go. Isaias’ parents are farmers; they harvest corn, beans, millet, vegetables and fruits. Mrs. Lopez sells all the products that they harvest in the central market of Sonsonate. He and the rest of his brothers would help his parents with the field work and tend to the livestock in order to afford food, clothing and healthcare.

Duration: 5 years of study
University: University of Sonsonate (USO)
Monthly Stipend: $ 49.00 (12 months)
Tuition: $50.00 (twice a year)
Use of Laboratories: $20.00
Transportation Cost: $ 4.00 per day. (6 days a week)

Jaqueline Estefani Ramírez García

Jaqueline is 21 years old, and also from Santo Domingo de Guzmán. She is studying to become a nurse technician. This process involves two years of education as well as six months of clinical rotations. Jaqueline only needs financial aid during these final 6 months, since she will not be paid during this residency. In the month of December she will graduate as nurse technician.

University: Universidad Andrés Bello
Monthly Stipend: $ 30.00
Transportation Cost: $ 4.00 per day (5 days a week)  

Luis with a proud mother and grandmother.

Just wanted to share a few photos Walter sent my way. One of TLAU’s sponsored students, Luis Sanchez, received his high school diploma a few weeks ago.  It’s not an uncommon sight for those of us in the US, but without the help of TLAU donors, his degree would have been an impossibility.  On behalf of Luis and all the Becados, Thank You!

The graduating class. Luis is top row, second from left.

TLAU scholarship recipients think and pray before signing TLAU’s mission promise.

Some weeks back, I promised to post a translation of the document each of the TLAU scholarship recipients signed.  The document, presented to them at a special ceremony with Father Keane, allows each student to pledge solidarity and devotion to TLAU’s mission statement, vowing never to be satisfied with simple material advancement but always striving to improve themselves and those around them mentally, physically, and spiritually.

I, (name), student at (school/institution name), pursuing a course of studies in (major), in this my (number) year of study, do in the first place thank  God Almighty who has given me this opportunity to achieve my dreams of education and self-improvement. Secondly, I thank The Least Among Us, which through its generous donors has given me a scholarship and has made my education possible. The comprehensive formation we receive through The Least Among Us combines acquired knowledge and skills with virtues encouraged and planted by the mission of the foundation: solidarity, devotion to the poor and less fortunate, charity, hope, faith in eternal life, and offering all our work, successes, and failures for the love of Jesus Christ. The Least Among Us has taught us that true joy and happiness is found not in receiving, but in giving.

Therefore, I freely and willingly pledge and promise that just as I have received the gifts of education, formation, and the promise of a brighter future, so also will I place myself and my talents at the service of God and my fellow brothers and sisters so that other young people, within or without my immediate family, have the opportunity to accomplish their professional goals and dreams. In this way, through my continued labors I will bring the love of God to others without regard to their sex, creed, or political affiliations. I understand that I am not obliged to repay The Least Among Us for what it has given me, therefore I will repay its generosity with support of my brethren.

The document then provides a space for the student to list specific promises to contribute to their plan of life, and each student was given a full day to think and pray about the letter before turning it in to TLAU officers. We hope this gives you more insight into The Least Among Us’ unique approach to combatting poverty in El Salvador.

Walter recently posted new photos of this year’s scholarship recipients.  The Salvadoran school year is a little different from what most of us are familiar with, beginning in January and ending in December.  Among the students are six trade school or high school students, three males and three females, and nine university students, six females and three males.  Although the aid provided to each student varies, it usually includes some mix of tuition and fees, supplies, uniforms, and/or transportation costs.  I hope these photos help donors understand the positive impact they are having on these lives…they will never be the same.

Walter sent some information about four new students to be sponsored by TLAU during the upcoming school year. Moises is from El Aulote who wants to study to be a teacher at the University of Sonsonate. Rosario (whom I have known since she was crawling around on the floor of the Garcia family home) wants to earn her high school diploma. Also pictured are Candelaria and Luis, who also want to earn high school diplomas. If you would like more information about the students, their families, or the TLAU Becados program, don’t be afraid to ask. We’d love to hear from you!

Please check out these photo profiles of the 2009 TLAU becados.

A trip to El Salvador invariably means long hours sitting in the passenger’s seat of Walter’s truck, so naturally I use it as an opportunity to really dig deep into what is going on with TLAU’s Salvadoran operations.  As we talked about the scholarship program, which now sponsors seven high school students and three university students, Walter commented on a common mistake made by many non-profits and charitable organizations: slowly degenerating into a simple reservoir of handouts, thereby greatly diminishing the value and power of the donor’s dollar.  It works like this: If a donor makes a contribution to TLAU and we in turn give it to a student and do nothing else, even if it is in the form of books, tuition, or transportation, that’s all the charitable donation will bring: a book, a semester of school, or a ride on the bus.  Such a transaction also seems to strip the donation of much of its force as a moral statement, leaving it as a bare lump sum of cash.  However, if TLAU takes a donation and gives it to a student with the condition or understanding that that student will use his or her gift to help someone in a similar situation, the power of that donation or act of charity is greatly amplified.  For not only does the student receive an education and hope for a better future, but that same gift is in turn given to another, and the initial act of charity on the part of the donor reverberates as an act of love should.  It’s actually a very simple concept that got me looking for the translation of “chain” and “web” in my Spanish dictionary as I sat in Walter’s truck, and I’m sure you’ve seen it played out or elaborated in other ways, such as the saying “teach a man to fish…” or in that movie Pay it Forward (which I found a little too saccharine).

So what we’re planning to do is to add another prerequisite for TLAU aid, namely a promise before God made by the student that one day, when they have work and a steady income on account of their education, they will support another (a family member would be ideal) in the same way.  It is just a promise, which I agree probably doesn’t amount to much in our circles.  But I will vouch for the character of the TLAU becados and say that things work differently down there.  It may take them a while to get around to it, and they may not do things like Americans do, but they will keep their promise.

So hopefully I have added to the list of reasons to donate to TLAU.

The 2007 Salvadoran School year starts on January 7th, and in addition to TLAU’s 9 former becados who have yet to finish their high school education, 13 new students have been chosen to begin their first year of “bachillerato” with the help of generous donors in the United States and around the world.

For those of you who are in any way unfamiliar with our scholarship program, here’s a little background: Students of the parochial school in Santo Domingo de Guzman who harbor aspirations to professional or semi-professional career paths may apply for full scholarships to attend high school or trade school in their town or in the adjacent large city, Sonsonate. Applications are given to TLAU employee Walter Ulloa, who compiles profiles of each student containing their background information, economic necessity, aspirations, and grades. With an OK from TLAU officers such as myself, Leonard, or Father Keane, the foundation covers the costs of tuition, books, uniforms, supplies, and transportation to and from school. If this seems excessive in any way, remember that without your help, there would be no possiblity of post-grade school education for these young men and women. Furthermore, an entire year of education with all such expenses factored in amounts to a whopping $500, which is nothing compared to education costs for many Americans.

I am currently working on posting pictures of all the becados (so called because a scholarship is called a “beca” in El Salvador) and some profiles on a few to give you an idea of their extremely poor backgrounds. These young men and women have remained diligent and dedicated to their futures in the face of extreme adversity, providing an example for us all.

Pictures and profiles may be found HERE.