Women and Youth Development Scholarship Program

I'm now the Secretary of the Women and Youth Development Scholarship Program, which works to administer and raise funds for scholarships to poor, rural, Salvadoran girls. To be eligible, the girls need to have at least a 7 (out of 10) average, and need to submit recommendations and essays that prove their good character and community involvement, as well as their financial need. Scholarship money goes towards matriculation fees, transport costs, uniforms, school supplies, etc... and the distribution of funds is overseen by the Volunteer in the scholarship recipients' site.
A few weekends ago we had a camp for the scholarship recipients of 2009, and it went really well! The different session themes were gender and sex education, resume writing, interviewing skills, self defense, etc... I brought two girls from my site and they loved it! I helped give the sex ed charlas, which included me dressing up as a man AGAIN :) for an activity where the girls practice saying no to sexual pressure. I also gave the career prep session using the materials from my career prep class at the local high school.
We are receiving the applications for the 2010 school right now, and the amount of scholarships we are able to give depends on how much we can raise! If you would like to donate, you can do so on the Peace Corps Partnership page:

https://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=resources.donors.contribute.projDetail&projdesc=519-128


Me and my girls, Alba and Lupe


Group Pic from the Camp


Giving charlas