WYD Slideshow

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Women and Youth Development

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Unfortunately, this is the reality facing many rural girls in El Salvador. Due to poverty and machismo, instead of sending girls to school, families often opt to have their daughters help out with the cooking and cleaning around the house.

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While basic public education is free and high school matriculation is also paid for by the Salvadoran government, families still must pay for school uniforms, books, and transportation to and from class. Many rural families, earning an average of $4 per day, struggle to put food on the table, making it even more difficult to provide for their children`s education.

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Furthermore, the gap between rich and poor citizens, within both developed and developing nations, is growing, according to the UNDP 2007 report. While the richest two percent of the world's adult population owns more than half of global household wealth, over a billion people worldwide in 2007 had an income equivalent of a dollar a day or less (UNDP Report 2007). Thus, for more than a billion people worldwide, education has become a privilege instead of an inherent right.

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Without the opportunity to study, many young girls wind up being very young (and likely single) mothers. Without education, employment is too far out of reach. Thus, the cycle of poverty she was born into continues. . .

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A group of Peace Corps Volunteers formed a committee with local nonprofit organizations to provide scholarships to poor, rural Salvadoran girls who without outside assistance would discontinue their studies.

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This scholarship program, called Mujeres y Jovenes en Desarrollo (or Women and Youth Development) not only provides the means for girls with the aptitude and desire to continue their studies, but also provides them with technical training that compliments their studies (under themes such as leadership development, women`s empowerment and equality, community development, et cetera).

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In September the scholarship applications are disbursed to all Peace Corps volunteers in El Salvador. The Peace Corps volunteer announces that the scholarship program is seeking applications from underprivileged young girls who maintain good grades, participate in community development projects, and have the desire to continue their studies. The Peace Corps volunteers living in scholar communities then provide the funds to the scholar and mentor scholars, encouraging them to complete their homework and study daily, as well as participate in community development projects. Said volunteers submit the scholar candidates’ applications to the WYD Committee (consisting of seven Peace Corps volunteers and six Salvadoran partners). The local partners on the committee select the scholars. The WYD Committee then awards the scholars at a formal ceremony. 1 2 3

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How can I help? North American friends and neighbors along with Salvadoran businesses donate each year. It is our hope that by Christmas time we will have enough funds to continue assisting girls for the 2011 school year.

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To make a donation that will change the life of a young Salvadoran woman, please visit: https://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=donate.contribute.projDetail&projdesc=519-141