Education Gifts

Primary school (through 5th grade) is free in Nicaragua, but students need clothes and supplies. With $50, you provide a child with a backpack stuffed with a uniform (including a belt for boys), shoes and socks, and a notebook and pencil. The recipients are chosen by the community leaders based on family need; only one child per family can receive a scholarship until all families in need have been served. Community leaders follow up with the primary age becados (scholarship recipients). If a child does not complete the school year, that family is not eligible for any of their children to receive a scholarship the following year.

Most university programs in Nicaragua are five years (including what would be the last year of high school in US). As in the United States, there are many higher education expenses that the $1000 scholarship provides for, such as:

• tuition
• basic school supplies and books
• $200 for tutoring or special supplies, like a computer for engineering students or dental tools for dental students
• $100 is reserved each year to help the student to cover the $500-$800 most schools charge students to receive their diploma.
• transportation and living expenses - Most students travel from Chacraseca or La Flor to either León or Managua and stay during the week.

We also ask that university scholarship donors seriously consider pledging at least two years of support. It doesn't do the student any good to go one year and then be left without sufficient funds.

University students are followed and supported by JustHope's Nicaraguan staff by attending required bi-monthly meetings. They must turn in their grades every three months, and tutoring is provided if they fall below a 75% grade point average. Students whose grade point average remains under 75% for two consecutive quarters lose their scholarship. Scholarship students also perform at least 20 hours of community service each month.