Marcos Tulio Torres Méndez, 19 years old

Academic Career:	Philosophy, 1st year

Have you participated in the scholarship program before? If so, which years?

Yes, I participated in the scholarship program when I was in high school in Santa Marta in 2004 and 2005.

What would you like to do after graduating from college?

I would like to return to Santa Marta as a professional and practice my degree there, doing everything possible so that my knowledge can be spread. I also hope to work to strengthen existing organizations in Santa Marta. I want to pay back the community for all of the effort they made for us, since it is thanks to the effort that the people made for us that the community now is what it is and we are now able to be here.

Who are you and what is your personal background (place of birth, childhood, basic education, abilities and knowledge, hobbies, etc.)

I was born in a refugee camp in Mesa Grande in Honduras because of the civil war in El Salvador. On October 10, 1987, when I was 10 months old, all of the people from Santa Marta who were refugees decided to return to their community. The conditions were not more suitable as the war was still at its full height, but our people took the risk. From 1986 to 1992 we lived in Santa Marta and continued with the war as part of our daily life. I have completed all of my studies from basic through high school at the school in Santa Marta. Among my skills, I can operate computers and information programs and do a little bit of web page programming. In 2003, I joined CoCoSI, a committee of young people in Santa Marta that work to prevent HIV/AIDS. I did community work with CoCoSI for 2 years. In 2004, I joined a group that works to recover the history of Santa Marta. In 2006, I started studying philosophy at the National University of El Salvador.

Why do you want to participate in this scholarship program?

My goal in participating in this scholarship program is to finish my studies and one day return to Santa Marta in order to repay my community for all the effort that it made so that we could all be here and alive. I want to do everything possible to keep our history from becoming lost, as we already we have so much history that we cannot forget. As young people, we need to fight like the people that fight with guns, except we will fight with words to make sure that our community is not lost.

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Ana Maria Hernández Alemán, 18 years old

Academic Career:	Sociology, 1st year

Have you participated in the scholarship program before? If so, which years?

Yes, since I started high school in 2003.

What would you like to do after graduating from college?

I would like to put the knowledge from my degree into practice. The reason I study is for my community. Being able to use my knowledge in my community is something that I have always imagined and dreamed of.

Who are you and what is your personal background (place of birth, childhood, basic education, abilities and knowledge, hobbies, etc.)

My name is Ana Maria and I was born in Mesa Grande, Honduras because of the civil war that occurred in my country in 1980. I came from Honduras to El Salvador when I was six months old. I spent all of my childhood in Santa Marta. My basic education took place at the Centro Escolar Santa Marta. I have a lot of knowledge of national politics and am quite creative. My pastime is reading.

Why do you want to participate in this scholarship program?

I face the same problem as all young people from poor rural areas in El Salvador when they decide that they want to study. We do not have sufficient economic capital to finish our studies like they should be finished. In the few months since I have started studying I have realized how difficult it is to survive in the city. It is very different than all the care that exists within our beloved community.

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Yunior Medardo Alfaro, 21 years old

Academic Career:	English language, with option of teaching, 1st year

Have you participated in the scholarship program before? If so, which years?

Yes I participated in 2003 and 2004 when I was in high school. This scholarship for high school was very important because it opened a high school up for the community when one did not exist before. If there had not been a scholarship program, there would not have been a high school and we would not have been able to pay to study elsewhere.

What would you like to do after graduating from college?

I plan to teach English at the school in Santa Marta.

Who are you and what is your personal background (place of birth, childhood, basic education, abilities and knowledge, hobbies, etc.)

I was born in Mesa Grande, Honduras. I came to Santa Marta in 1988, when I was almost 3 years old and the war was still continuing in El Salvador. My father died in the "Final Offensive" in 1989. My mother is a humble woman who does domestic work but she is a strong advocate for her family and community. I have volunteered for the Committee Against Aids, CoCoSi for 2 and a half years. I was also part of the youth publishing group Rebelión in Santa Marta and I collaborate to make the bulletin "Abriendo Brecha" (roughly, Paving the Way) This year at the university, I support CoCosi and give classes about the prevention of HIV/AIDS on the weekends.

Why do you want to participate in this scholarship program?

Because like all of us, I do not have the resources to pay for a degree at the University. It helps us a lot to have help. Also because I believe that the only way to be free is to be educated, and since we have to have the opportunity to educate ourselves, we have to be the light to those that do not have the opportunity.

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Jaime Armando Sánchez Rivas, 20 years old

Academic Career:	International Relations, 2nd year

Have you participated in the scholarship program before? If so, which years?

I had the opportunity to study high school through the scholarship program in these years:

First year of high school, 2003

Second year of high school, 2004

In 2005 when I studied my first year at the University of El Salvador, I also obtained a significant support from this scholarship program.

What would you like to do after graduating from college?

I believe that the degree that I am studying will permit me to obtain the tools that lend to greater knowledge of the agendas of international cooperation, with which the it will become more feasible to obtain projects of cooperation for my community. The different types of knowledge that I can acquire in the University will permit me to return to my community and look for alternative solutions to old problems and promote more development strategies that confront the challenges that will come in the future. I am taking as a base the programs of study of my degree and consider that my knowledge will not be specifically framed in one area, rather that I can obtain knowledge in the areas most fundamental such as economy, jurisprudence, politics, sociology, and philosophy, complemented with social investigation methods. This will permit me to give a contribution much larger to different organizational areas of my community.

Who are you and what is your personal background (place of birth, childhood, basic education, abilities and knowledge, hobbies, etc.)

I believe that as a professional I will be able to offer an important contribution to the community of Santa Marta and a larger contribution to Salvadorian society.

During the 1980s, the political and social situation in El Salvador turned chaotic from the repression exercised by the repressive entities of the government against communities who were accused of being subversives. Our community of Santa Marta was not exempt from this repression and it was for this reason that on March 18, 1981, we had to leave to Honduras and stayed as refugees there for many years. It was during this time in Honduras that I was born in the Mesa Grande refugee camp in 1985. In 1987, the people in my community decided to return to their native land even though they knew that the conditions there were not very good, the war was getting worse, but the attraction to the land was strong and because of this my parents returned. I went to get to know the land of my parents when I was 2 years old, and it was in this way that I started living the first years of my life with the incessant sound of bullets everywhere.

In 1993, I started my studies at the school "October 10" in Santa Marta. It was there that I studied all of my basic education and thanks to a scholarship project I was able to, with pride, graduate from high school.

During the time of my studies, I had the opportunity to participate in other important projects for my community. Among these projects I participated in two dance groups, Guanaquitos de Cabañas and El Grupo Julu Piltzin. I also participated in other groups of theater of the community. Along with my participation in these artistic groups I participated in the formation of the Unión de Jovenes Salvadoreños Monseñor Romero (The Union of Young Salvadorans for Archbishop Romero). In the meetings to create this organization of the youth of Santa Marta, I was offered the opportunity to participate in the first youth directive body in which I was the treasurer for many years. This youth organization counts among its largest successes, the management and execution of projects such as the soccer field "Monseñor Romero" in Santa Marta and other character-building projects.

All of this process enriched me culturally, and motivated me in 2002 to join Radio Victoria, where I have continued to participate and where I fulfill the areas of press, production and broadcasting. During this time in the Radio I have had the opportunity to participate in three electoral coverages and interview people of influence in Salvadorian society. I also fulfilled the role of journalist for the Radio for some time. Later, I participated in the formation of the youth editorial group "Rebelión" in Santa Marta. In this group we have created informative spaces like the program "Sin Farsas" (Without Farces) that we transmitted through the Radio and where we discussed themes of local, national and international interest. The other large force that we have brought from the group is the creation of a monthly bulletin called "Abriendo Brecha" (roughly, Paving the Way), which we have succeeded at maintaining for almost two years and where we can reveal to the people our visions and more, our humble proposals of solutions.

All of this process of learning has permitted me to acquire real abilities in writing articles, knowledge of information programs and programming web pages. My favorite pastime is to read books about politics and write articles about different themes of national interest. I also like to write poems and stories. Presently I am studying my second year of a degree in International Relations at the National University of El Salvador.

Why do you want to participate in this scholarship program?

Education in our country, even though it is constitutionally recognized, has become a privilege and not a right. The conditions to receive an education are fundamental to development but the opportunity has been converted into a dream.

The condition of poverty in our country obligate the youth to immigrate to the US and with this the possibilities of building a better country, both economically and also intellectually, are lost.

From the personal level, the conditions of my family do not permit me to finish my studies at the University and for this reason I believe that I should look for all the means possible to complete my dream of becoming a graduate of International Relations and with this I can collaborate with my community and return a little bit of everything that my community has given to me. I believe that also it is a good opportunity for the youth to move forward.

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Ana Maria Gonzales Escalante, 24 years old

Academic Career:	History, 1st year

Have you participated in the scholarship program before? If so, which years?

In high school in 2003 and 2004.

What would you like to do after graduating from college?

I would like to return to my community as a professional and use my degree in the community because I want to continue supporting our people and the community. The community has been the force behind our development and I am who I am because of the daily learning that I obtained from my community. It is fair that I should return one day so that I can work to make a Santa Marta that will last throughout time, so that we can keep our history and our origins alive.

Who are you and what is your personal background (place of birth, childhood, basic education, abilities and knowledge, hobbies, etc.)

I was born on October 4 1981 in the refugee camps of Virtud, Honduras, during the exile of our people who first went to Virtud. During 1981 to 1989 we lived in the refugee camps in Mesa Grande, Honduras, where I spent part of my childhood. We returned to Santa Marta in the second return in 1989, we returned to our land which had been destroyed by the hands of our oppressor that was still present prowling our land and killing people. My studies from my first year through high school took place at the school in Santa Marta where I learned through popular education. For five years I participated in a group of youth called CoCoSI (Committee against AIDS) where we work in the education and prevention of HIV/AIDS and STDs, sexual education, national reality, gender, and masculinity, among others. Because of my studies I am participating in this group less than before, in a more indirect way, but I am always supporting them in what we can do because it is not my objective to disconnect myself from my community. Also I participate in the organization of the community of Zopote on the board of directors of youth and adults.

Why do you want to participate in this scholarship program?

The economic situation of the families in the community is not sufficient to maintain a child at the university and also survive from the agriculture if you do not have a salary. My family consists of nine children and my parents and it is not the exception among the other families in the community because no one has the resources to maintain themselves at the university. Participating in this program I can study and improve myself in order to serve my community and also that more students can study, either students from my family or from my community, and to get a university degree permits my and the other students to better serve our community.

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Maria Hilda Mijango Lainez, 34 years old

Academic Career:	Library Science, 2nd year

Have you participated in the scholarship program before? If so, which years?

Yes, last year when I was enrolled in the University and the scholarship covered some of the costs, like the cost of the house, lights, water, and payment to the University, among others.

What would you like to do after graduating from college?

Put into practice my knowledge inside my community and specifically inside the school, as my degree is to work as a librarian and the Centro Escolar in Santa Marta requires a librarian and in this way I will be contributing to the development of my community and completing my dreams to be able to help and be a part of the development of the community.

Who are you and what is your personal background (place of birth, childhood, basic education, abilities and knowledge, hobbies, etc.)

I was born in Santa Marta, and I lived there until I was 9 years old, then I had to immigrate with my family to Mesa Grande Honduras because of the armed conflict. One part of my education as a child took place in Santa Marta, and the other part in Honduras. In 1988, we returned again to our place of origin, and again I started going to school there. In Honduras, because of the situation that we were in, it was necessary to organize, and we all had to contribute and be part of the organization and so when I was 16 years old I worked as a teacher of popular education to children in kindergarten. When we returned to Santa Marta I continued working as a popular education teacher of the first grade, for two years. I also taught literacy classes to adults in the community for three years. Also I helped with crippled people, with women and with health by working in a store for buying medicines and help with some things that the people in the community needed when there was still an armed conflict. Here as well. I have also participated in many community investigations, which seek to develop the community itself. Some skills that I have are sewing clothing, embroidery, and a little bit of ceramics. I participate in the embroidery workshop in the community as well. Basic knowledge that I have is about self-esteem, gender, family disintegration, political incidents, local development and national and local history. My pastimes are studying and helping women with embroidery and organizing women.

Why do you want to participate in this scholarship program?

I am a person with scarce economic resources, as my family is poor and does not have jobs where they could obtain money to fund my studies since there are no opportunities for work here in El Salvador. My brothers work in farming so that they can obtain our daily food, and for this reason it is difficult to cover the costs of the University. Also, the life in the city is not the same as in the countryside, it is very expensive and difficult and I cannot pay the expenses that I am presented with daily, many times I have to withstand hunger and spend the only money I have for food to pay for copies to do the homework for class.

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Yeny Leticia Romero, 20 years old

Academic Career:	Psychology, 2nd year

Have you participated in the scholarship program before? If so, which years?

Yes, I have participated. For my two years of high school in 2003 and 2004. Also for my studies at the university.

What would you like to do after graduating from college?

I would like to put into practice my knowledge and start to use it in projects and plans that can be done in my community. Especially, my dream is to work with children and adolescents, sharing with them my knowledge of psychology.

Who are you and what is your personal background (place of birth, childhood, basic education, abilities and knowledge, hobbies, etc.)

I was born in a refugee camp in Mesa Grande, Honduras. All of my basic education I received from popular education teachers, who formed my process of learning. For part of my childhood I lived in the refugee camp, I have few memories, but it was very happy, even though the adults don't see it as this since the situation was very difficult. As children on many occasions we did not see things in all of their reality. Among my skills I have developed social-awareness skills which have helped me to better reflect on the objective reality. As for pastimes, I don't have one in particular, but I like to dance, and I like to talk with people, independent of their age.

Why do you want to participate in this scholarship program?

My nuclear family is very large, I have five siblings that live away from me. I receive economic help from my older siblings, but each of them has their own family already and have to worry about their wellbeing as well. My degree is very costly and what my family can help me with is not sufficient for the materials required.

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José Leonel Hernández Rivas, 21 years old

Academic Career:	Math, 2nd year

Have you participated in the scholarship program before? If so, which years?

Yes, I was part of the first class of students to receive their high school diploma, and this was possible because of the commitment of the community, even though the community could not guarantee the resources that education demands. But from the first moment, when we were presented with the possibility, it only included the permission to open a full-time high school. It was like this, from the moment the community decided to initiate this challenge, as had been the whole process of popular education of which I have been a part. But starting the project of high school education was only possible with the solidarity of institutions such as CoCoDA, Doctors for Global Health, and Crispaz.

My two years of high school study took place in 2003 and 2004. During this time we were on scholarship, which covered our teaching and other of the most necessary costs. Also my first year at the university was supported by part of this project.

What would you like to do after graduating from college?

Formally I study mathematics and I would like to continue learning and teaching. But more than that, I have a deeper concept as to why I study, I believe, and I do it as such, that I don't think of whether or not I will live from my profession, I believe in the possibility, that a new generation of students in the university is one more possibility for our community.

[These students] have, above all, a historical commitment with their parents, with themselves and with the future of the community, with our little brothers and sisters. It's because of this that I have hope and at the same time the guarantee that we need to know how to ensure our most mature contribution to the community.

Who are you and what is your personal background (place of birth, childhood, basic education, abilities and knowledge, hobbies, etc.)

I was born in the refugee camps of Mesa Grande Honduras. Now, with a clearer understanding of what life has meant in our community, I can say that in the name of those children, that now flourish in the fields of Mesa Grande, Honduras, and did not return to see our hopes and our lives grow with each new morning.

For those others that did not return from exile, from the mountain, I speak in name of them to you. That possibly you should read this lines right now, there is here, a feeling of profound dignity, of much hope, and of much strength to be able to continue.

Fruit of a process of popular education, our primary, secondary education today guarantees that I can't speak more of myself than of my predecessors, who like me, could have been writing you, describing what I am trying to do today. All of our childhood life has been beautiful, our life in the community, we have, in it, seen grow what seemed impossible to see grow.

It's more than a year ago that we began together with other partners the work of the magazine Abriendo Brecha. A grassroots effort, from high school students. Now every space I manage to find even with my mathematics studies, I use it to read another bibliography, write for the magazine. I spend almost all of my time on it, I like it a lot, I appreciate the value of knowledge.

Why do you want to participate in this scholarship program?

I don't know if the best way of calling it would be, because I want to participate. Before this, there are reasons that are above the simple fact of wanting or not wanting, it is those conditions which are merely objective, which are above every desire.

As I said, continuing with my secondary studies was only possible for two reasons:

First, the community's decision to assume the challenge of [building] a high school.

Second, thanks to the help of organizations like CoCoDA, Doctors for Global Health, Crispaz and others.

Now the situation is no different. It is our objective conditions (poverty) that lead us to seek help.

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