This holiday season when missionary nun Gabriela Ramírez shares Christmas dinner with other members Guadalupan Multicultural Services, a special gift will await the group of volunteers, thanks to a timely scholarship from the Institute for Mexicans Abroad.
The incentive is an initiative of the Mexican government and seeks to increase educational opportunities for Mexican expatriates. It is directed toward low income students attending high school and different types of college courses, including technical schools.
Scholarships are awarded to charitable organizations in the U.S., whose work specifically assists Mexicans with needs.
“We are very happy and grateful. We want to use these resources wisely, on materials for our students, so they can continue advancing,” explained Ramírez.
Her organization was not the only recipient of this recognition. Both Family Advancement Ministries and Casa de la Cultura Latino Americana each received $6,000 as well.
“One of our main objectives is to develop leadership in the Latino community. It’s very important and a great motivation to receive this scholarship, because with it, we are able to continue offering our services. And not just to Mexicans, but to all Hispanics who require our help,” said Mayra Yu, executive director of Casa de la Cultura Latinoamericana in Nashville. She traveled to the Consulate General of Mexico in Atlanta in order to receive the award.
Also on hand at the consulate was Sofía Camacho, a Hispanic woman who was able to complete her higher education thanks to the help offered by Casa de la Cultura Latinoamericana. After studying to be a medical assistant, she graduated Dec. 9.
“I was a stay at home mom with four children. I spent the first few years here taking care of my children, then once they grew up I started hearing about the ‘plazas comunitarias,’” said Camacho, in reference to an online education program, which offers a variety of courses covering basic literacy skills, courses for elementary, middle school, work-related courses, and English as a second language.
“The help is there. I never thought I would be able to do it in such a short amount of time, but in two years I’ve had three graduations and completed all my studies,” she added.
For Camacho, it was not just the financial assistance that helped her, but rather the moral support she was offered during her educational journey.
“If I could do it at 40 years old, anyone can do it,” assured Camacho, herself a native of Mexico.
The IME scholarship program began in 2005, with the goal of aiding Mexicans living abroad. Since then, the initiative has distributed more than 10 million dollars of support both in the form of ‘plazas comunitarias’ and at universities.
Consul General of Mexico in Atlanta, Javier Díaz de León, praised the program’s efforts at a press conference in which the scholarships were awarded.
“When it comes to immigrants who surely left their country many years ago and were unable to complete their studies, thanks to the Plazas Comunitarias program, thousands of people have been able to succeed in their educational and academic goals, in the presence of their loved ones,” said de León, at the press conference.
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