9th grade graduation

Our trip to El Salvador was in the planning for the past year.  Our priority was to attend the first 9^th grade graduation, as we have been working and fundraising for the past three years to make this possible.  We knew pictures and an email from our partners would not capture the moments for us, so we made the journey.

The graduation is the story of the parents who had a vision for their children to remain in the community to safely complete their education.  With help from the local sugar cane producer, the sugar cane association and parents, a classroom building was constructed.

 

On our first visit the building was bare, there was nothing for classes.  We returned home and started fundraising for the equipment and books needed for the seventh, eighth and ninth grades.  Our efforts were successful and on November 18, 41 students graduated from the ninth grade.  The students were escorted into the ceremony by a parent or grandparent.  The three students having the highest grades were acknowledged and also the 22 students who started in kindergarten and graduated received recognition for their persistence.  There were numerous speeches and then a performance by the students and their teacher where they danced with graceful movements and sang a friendship song to each other.  It was beautiful and lots of tears.

All 41 students passed the entry exam to qualify for high school.  We believe this is a testimony to the teachers as 100% passing the exam is not the norm but the exception.  Victor wants to be a civil engineer and will be taking classes online since he has a full time job.  Victor and all the other graduates have computer skills as the West Bend Sunrise Rotary invested in a computer classroom three years ago.  One of the largest industries in El Salvador is working in a Call Center.  With English and computer skills, these young people have another choice for employment after high school.

David y Nancy Slinde were named the Godparents of this graduating class and given a handsome plaque acknowledging our personal and financial commitment. 

Ten students don’t have resources to attend high school.  Our Salvadoran Partners are checking on costs to determine if a scholarship plan is feasible.

What would their lives be like without these improvements?  Some students would have attended the neighboring school until they were threatened and then drop out.  Most of the boys would work in the sugar cane fields or coffee plantations, but that’s only for a couple of months each year.  They would have a lot of idle time on their hands. 

   

What was accomplished by educational success will have impact for generations and that truly is a stunning reality.

David y Nancy

David y Nancy