Student Education Program

 STUDENT EDUCATION PROGRAM

To support the youth of Jalapa so they may become well-educated, self-sufficient young people who can help contribute to their community of Jalapa in the future.

The most important contribution AACC brings to the people of Jalapa is to work in solidarity towards a shared goal of peace and hope. Becoming informed so people can make better choices for themselves and their community develops peace and hope. Peace and hope are significant to the families of Jalapa as they can then dream about their children having a chance to be healthy and well educated so they can become productive and have happy future.

We work in collaboration with local schools, teachers and parents throughout the entire year.

AACC/PIEAT hope to increase the percentage of Jalapa-area youth attending primary, secondary, and postsecondary schools, to improve the quality of the overall educational experience, and to provide information to families so they may better support their student.

As a result of economic and social stressors, currently only 25% of Nicaraguan youth are able to attend high school.  Delegates and those working closely with AACC have seen firsthand how the lack of education can lead to limited access to services and opportunities that reduce the impact of poverty. Here are three different ways you can help educate Jalapa's youth:

Primary school Scholarships

For only $300 per year you can send a young Nicaraguan to primary school. Students who would be unable to attend school without financial support are found through home visits by PIEAT.  PIEAT directly works with the children and their families on an on-going basis throughout the life of the scholarship. Your scholarship support pays for a student's school fees, supplies, and uniform. In return, scholarship students must maintain a minimum grade point average of 85%.

Secondary school Scholarships

For only $300 per year you can send an 11 to 16 year old Nicaraguan to secondary school (high school). Promising students unable to attend school without financial support are chosen by their primary grade teachers and school directors. Your scholarship support pays for a student's school fees, supplies, and uniform. In return, scholarship students must maintain a minimum grade point average of 85%. PIEAT continues to mentor the student throughout the life of the scholarship.  In addition, each student is required to give service (tutoring) to a primary student in the program. A commitment to sponsor a student for the complete five years is recommended but not required.

Post-Secondary Scholarships

For $100 per month, you can support a young adult in a post-secondary college or university. Continuing education is extremely difficult for young adults in Jalapa to access.  Tuition and travel costs are prohibitively high for the majority of families. Education beyond the secondary level gives students a greater chance of succeeding in Nicaragua. Scholarship funds will cover all or part of their tuition, books and fees, and travel costs depending on the cost of the institution they choose to attend. A 2-year commitment will give students a technical degree, enabling them to start working and/or a chance to continue their education towards a 4-year degree.

Library Support Project

All students and teachers in the Jalapa district benefit from the AACC/PIEAT library project. Traditionally, information is presented to students on chalkboards in the classroom; they do not have their own textbooks. Thus, an adequately supplied community library, which includes textbooks, history books,  resources books, fiction and non-fiction books, parenting books, and children picture books along with resource materials, are located in the educational centers and made available to students and their community. This can be one of the student's only avenues for further study, and gives families and teachers more tools to support learning and teaching. The material and book selections, which inform AACC/PIEAT are developed by the teachers and school directors of Jalapa. Any amount you contribute to develop school libraries in the educational centers and local schools is most welcomed.

Quote: from a mom living in Champaingy

“This has been the first time I have ever been able to read a book to my little girl.  All she wants now is for me to sit with her and read the book over and over showing her and telling her about the pictures.  We have rarely ever had moments like this together.  I am so happy.”