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February 2012
Point #1. The BECA program facilitates technical school scholarships. To those students that finish a six-month screening process, that is.
Point #2. Our marketing efforts to attract scholarship candidates in Masaya in January bombed. Only 20 applications. Our goal was 100.
Are points #1 and #2 related?
There is an argument that they might be. Here's how.
The reality is not that many kids finish high school in Nicaragua. Especially those that come from "el campo" (rural communities.)
My perception is that those that do finish believe that they deserve better than a "lowly" technical school.
It's understandable. Aren't we a little snobbish about universities vs. technical schools in Canada and the U.S. too? I believe we are.
So why should these young people be any different?
And why should they listen to some gringo who shows up and preaches to them that a technical school will serve them better? (And he went to university, too!)
For the record, after three years here I haven't changed my mind. I still believe very strongly that a technical school makes more sense.
I'm just not sure anymore if it is really up to me to make that decision for them.
From all of us in Nicaragua, thanks for paying attention.
Sincerely,
Walter Hunchak
Founder, BECA.org
walter@beca.org
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