Santa Marta Students are READY for College - Help put it within reach! Scholarship Program for Disadvantaged, Poor El Salvador Students

Fighting Poverty Through Education...

"The reason I study is for my community. Being able to use my knowledge and return to teach in my community is something that I have always imagined and dreamed of."
Ana Maria Hernández Alemán
18 years old, first year Psychology student

The 17 students from the rural community of Santa Marta, El Salvador, are the first students from their community to go to college. They are studying at the National University of El Salvador with the help of the Santa Marta Scholarship Fund. This opportunity would not be possible without your help.

Santa Marta is a rural community in El Salvador of about 6,000 people. With a poverty rate of 70% and an adult illiteracy rate of 40%, educating the youth in the community has been a difficult, yet imperative struggle. Thanks to the hard work of the community and the support of the US-based non-profit CoCoDa, Santa Marta opened the first high school in the community three years ago. The first graduates of this high school are the participants of this scholarship program. This website seeks to raise support for the scholarship program, principally, and also for the high school.  Please help us raise the money necessary so that they can continue their studies.

In College for the First Time!
In 2005, the first high school class graduated from the Santa Marta high school. But now what? Should they escape to the U.S. like so many Salvadoran youth do?. Many of these smart, ambitious kids would much rather stay home and contribute to their community and their country. Unfortunately, opportunity has not been knocking on the door— but there is a glimmer of hope. ADES was able to organize this scholarship program for the students—those that can get accepted— to attend the national university. Now in its second year of running, a total of 17 kids in need have filed into the program. The budget is strained, and the doors are closed to new students since it is questionable whether funds can be consolidated for the 17 that are already involved. This is where you enter into the picture.

"The conditions of poverty in our country obligate the youth to emigrate to the US and with this the possibilities of building a better country, both economically and also intellectually, are lost. The knowledge that I can acquire in the University will mean that I can return to my community and look for solutions to old problems and promote more development strategies... as a professional I will be able to offer an important contribution to the community of Santa Marta and Salvadoran society."

-Jaime Sánchez, 20 years old
2nd year International Relations student

How You Can Help
Funding is currently the largest source of need, and there is good news: because of the different cost of living in El Salvador, donations go farther than you might suspect. One kid can attend university for about $140 per month.

If you want to become more intimately involved in the development of Santa Marta, you can contact us for ways to connect with the students themselves plan a visit to Santa Marta. They are very hospitable, and very gracious of your support.

What Organizations are Involved
ADES is a non-profit organization registered in El Salvador, and the legal documents are viewable online. Several U.S. non-profit organizations, Companion Community Development Alternatives (CoCoDA), Crispaz, and Doctors for Global Health, help coordinate fundraising efforts and solidarity projects. To donate to the Santa Marta Scholarship Fund, you should follow the instructions in the Donate section to donate. Your contribution will be tax-deductible. Be sure to e-mail us afterwards so we can know that this website is reaching people! Thank you for your compassion!