Sponsors Needed!

Haroldo Suárez,
President, The Magdalena Foundation

Over the past six years, the work of FOC in Colombia has produced outstanding results. However, as we consider future years, we need to reflect on the realities of continuing our scholarship program in its current form.

Accomplishments: In the past six years, FOC has made important contributions to the educational program of the Magdalena Foundation, Inc. (MFI) in Colombia. MFI has graduated 36 professionals during this period. As a group, FOC contributes about 28% to the college scholarship fund. In addition, FOC members contribute to this initiative individually and this enhances the role of RPCV’s in this program in northern Colombia.

While the program is administered in Santa Marta by Fundehumac, a Colombian NGO, it benefits poor students from other localities who have proven themselves and earned their slots through social work in displaced, poor, and indigenous communities in the state of Magdalena. Students who live in Santa Marta and attend public universities receive US$700 annually. Students who study elsewhere receive US$800. MFI students are required to perform social work during their participation in the program. This program has been very successful and about 33 graduates are working full-time and receive respect and recognition by their employers.

 Some graduates continue to support Fundehumac’s social programs. Julio Peraza, who some years ago received a prosthetic eye under an FOC initiative, works full-time with Fundehumac teaching at workshops, and is the main administrator of the microenterprise loans and communal banking programs that are funded mainly by the Colombia Project out of Miami. Francisco Redondo graduated with honors this year in medicine and is presently a consultant on health issues with Fundehumac, while he waits for an assignment for an internship.

Future Scholarships: This year there are 27 deserving students who would be eligible for scholarships—18 are continuing students and nine are new “hopefuls.” Our current projections are that we will raise approximately $16,000, roughly the same amount we raised last year and sufficient to sponsor 18 students. For us to add these additional nine students we would need to raise approximately $5,000 extra for a total of $21,000.

New students include a young man who is a community leader and mediator in the Wayuu indigenous group. A young lady, who will enter the third semester of Industrial Engineering at the University of Magdalena, is a very active tutor in Paso a Paso. Another girl who will graduate from Paso a Paso wants to become a teacher in Social Sciences. She got a high score in the Colombian SAT equivalent. See the FOC web site for stories of other deserving students.

In the past, we did not consider direct donations to individual students because we did not want to “single” out any individual, but times have changed. Our donor community is aging and, especially during these times, it is difficult to attract new and younger members. Not knowing to the last moment whether we will have sufficient funds to fully fund the five-year study program of our students is not a good way to proceed.

Therefore, this year we would like you to consider an individual sponsorship for these new students. It would be a five-year commitment from between $700 and $800 per year. For that commitment, MFI would provide the name, photos and direct contact with the student you sponsor. This would offer you a unique experience to enrich the life of a deserving young person. It would also ensure that that student would be fully funded for the normal length of his/her studies. Payments may be received in installments. Half of the cost is needed before the end of the year and the balance by mid-May. MFI will welcome installments throughout the year.

We will continue our fundraising efforts with brunches and outreach for new funding avenues, but we will not move forward with new students unless we are confident that all our students will be covered for the five years needed to complete their studies. This means that MFI may cease to operate after seniors of 2014 graduate. Your reflections and comments are most welcome. You may write to: President@friendsofcolombia.org and magfoundation@aol.com .

This will also have an impact on the Paso a Paso program, primarily sponsored by FOC. Of the nine new MFI potential scholars, three are graduates of the Paso a Paso program. We are looking into the long-term implications of that program also to see how the university needs of future Paso a Paso graduates might be covered. I will report on this at a later date. Once again I thank each and every one of you, as part of the FOC generous contribution and as individuals who have contributed directly to our program. We are proud of our achievements and hope to be able to carry on for at least another five years. Your support and well wishes have been an essential part of our success.