Atencion San Miguel September 9, 2005

Education for girls means a new future

By Tania Noriz

“The difference is clear between a student who has a scholarship and one who doesn't. The girls with a Mujeres en Cambio scholarship demonstrate this difference in their grades—and their smiles. The scholarship is a motivation that changes not only their lives, but also their faces," said Antonio Garcia, principal of the rural San Marcos school.

Education, for many young girls in rural communities, is an unattainable luxury. Social and familial expectations tie their future to housework and caring for younger siblings. For many, poverty means that a girl's education is sacrificed in favor of educating the boys.

Mujeres en Cambio , a nonprofit organization, was founded in 1995 by six local women to support talented young women from rural communities in pursuing further education—and their dreams. For ten years, the organization has provided financial assistance in the form of scholarships to nearly 500 female high school and university students.

Garcia has witnessed remarkable changes as a result of the scholarships. He recalls a time when he would visit each and every home in San Marcos , trying to persuade parents to enroll their children in school. "The wealthiest person of the community agreed to enroll only his sons, because he believed his daughters' futures involved only marriage and family, and therefore they had no need to study. Thanks to these scholarships, more young women can change their future. They have an opportunity to develop a career, just as men do."

The school year started on August 22, with around 40,000 students from the urban and rural areas of San Miguel attending elementary and high schools. Many rural students, however, have since dropped out of school because their parents—mostly farmers and manual laborers—don't have sufficient resources to cover the expenses.

The situation is even worse for girls in these rural communities. They are often required to help their mothers in the home or their fathers in the field.

Last week, Mujeres en Cambio awarded first-time scholarships of 500 pesos to 130 girls from 9 rural communities, such as Corral de Piedras, Atotonilco, Los Rodriguez, Agustin Gonzalez and San Marcos , among others.

"There are a lot of gender problems in the campos . In the past, few organizations specifically helped women, who must frequently endure ignorance and violence. We believe that schooling will open their eyes and lives to a better future," says Pakina Fernandez, one of the founders of Mujeres en Cambio and former head of the Family Services Agency, DIF.

According to figures provided by the State Education Support Office (USAE), most of the 11,602 scholarships granted to San Miguel area students by the state's Oportunidade s program were given to rural residents. The scholarships include groceries, medical services and approximately 60 pesos monthly.

Available resources can't keep pace with growing needs for aid. Many worthy students without the benefit of scholarships must drop out of school and face little hope of bettering their futures.

"We want to change the lives of these girls," said Marge Zap. "We think that this effort is really helping to improve the situation of rural women. Now, they have the alternatives of developing a career and changing their destinies.”

It isn't easy, however, to qualify for a Mujeres en Cambio scholarship. Candidates must demonstrate their commitment by maintaining grade averages above 8. In addition, they must be recommended by their teachers and school administrators. At the beginning of the school year, each participant receives 500 pesos, and every two months there- after, Mujeres en Cambio gives each girl an additional 300 pesos. With this money, they can purchase necessary school supplies and uniforms, as well as pay for transportation. The additional monthly funds can even be spent for food for their families. "The truth is that it doesn't matter how they spend the money. What really matters is that they continue attending school. If the money helps parents to buy tortillas, it means the girls can continue to attend school because the money helps the family. We're more than happy with the results of the scholarships—many of our program participants have gone on to university," says Zap.

The scholarships program has also had its share of misfortunes. Occasionally, girls still drop out of school due to a lack of money or family support. "Of course, these occurrences are disheartening, but there's little we can do in such circumstances. Our energies are better spent focusing on the girls who do take advantage of the opportunity provided them. When a girl is successful and graduates, we share in her success," says Peggy Bell, member of the Scholarship Committee.

It isn't easy to institute change

"It hasn't been easy to raise all we've raised thus far," says Zap. "It requires a lot of effort and the aid of many people. We know that what we give isn't enough, but it's important to know that even with a few pesos, a girl can have a better future."