Each year, a committee made up of members of the Guatemalan Friends Meeting and Program staff accepts about 30 new students to the program. The committee selects students with very limited financial resources, giving priority to rural students, women, Mayas, and those whose chosen careers can benefit their communities. Our selection process includes a review of each applicant's grades  and financial needs, followed by a personal interview. Follow up visits to the students' homes are scheduled when feasible.

At the beginning of the school year, we interview all the students to determine their needs. Every month, they receive a check or a bank deposit to cover ongoing expenses like tuition, travel, food and lodging. Many also apply and receive help for medical and dental supplies, uniforms, textbooks, special classes and health emergencies.

Members of the Administrative Committe during our 2008 Student conference. Left to right: Meme Romero, Martha Dugan, Jaime Torres and Miguel Costop.

Some of our students, left to right: German Lux (nursing), Lucía Mateo (social work), Yuri Tecú (psychology), and Juan Bernal (law).

In 2010 the program helped over 100 students in fields like medicine, law, nursing, rural health, and social work. Most attend public universities or public secondary schools which offer specialized careers. They attend more expensive private universities only if they can not study for a particular career elsewhere, or if they need to work and can only attend weekend courses. We do not send students to schools in the United States. Every year, we host a two-day conference for current students and graduates which features Guatemalan speakers and discussion groups on topics of current relevance.

Starting in 2009 all our students have to do a community service project for every year they get our help as way to share the benefits of their education. Click here to read some examples.

Picture on the right: Our former student Flor Cotzojay (center) from San Juan Sacatepéquez graduated recently as a lawyer. She appears with her parents after the graduation ceremony.