El Farito Scholarship ProgramHistory The El Farito Scholarship Program started from the El Farito Preschool Program. El Farito, which means The Little Lighthouse, is a small ministry center located in the heart of a very humble neighborhood called Cedro Galan. This ministry center, built in 2003, has been home to a Christian preschool program started in February of 2004. In November 2005 we were excited to graduate three children who had completed two years in our program. At that time a college age volunteer who had been working with the preschool asked about the possibility of providing a scholarship for one of these students so he could attend a higher quality elementary program than what is offered in the public school system. After prayerful deliberation the decision was made to begin a formal scholarship program and all three students were offered the opportunity to participate. In February 2006 these three students started in Kindergarten at Covanic – a high quality Christian school located within walking distance from El Farito. These three students are now in 5th grade and have continued to benefit from the generous donations of their sponsors and other supporters to attend this quality school. Each year since 2005 we have continued to offer scholarships to the students who have successfully completed two years of our preschool program. At this time we have students in Kindergarten through 5th grade studying at Covanic for a total of 29 students. In the six years of the program we have had two students discontinue due to difficulties with behaviors and/or academics.
Kindergarten students at Covanic: Brandon, Engel, Arleth, Diana and a friend The Purpose of the ProgramThe Little Lighthouse ministry center (El Farito) is part of a larger ministry program under the umbrella of Alongside Ministries en Nicaragua (AMEN). Alongside Ministries is an independent ministry started in February of 2002 by Halle and Kathy August. After a short term mission trip to Nicaragua in July 2000 they and their three sons felt a strong call on their lives to return to Nicaragua as long term missionaries with the purpose of making a difference in the lives of the poor community of Chiquilistagua and Cedro Galan by sharing the love and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. When they started they were ill-equipped linguistically to share the gospel in Spanish but felt the Lord was calling them to a relational ministry where they would share the love of Jesus Christ through their lives and actions by living in community with, or alongside, the people of Nicaragua. Starting a preschool program, a particular passion of Kathy’s, was one vehicle they used to create an environment in which they could grow in relationship with the Nicaraguan community of Cedro Galan. Not only did the preschool program provide a relational setting it was also a way to educationally improve and enhance the lives of the children and families that participated in the program, providing a quality preschool program that more than prepared the children for Kindergarten. As the preschool program developed into the scholarship program we have seen how a high quality Christian education has encouraged both academic and spiritual growth and maturity in the children and given them a vision for an improved future and a possible step up and out of the poverty in which they were raised.
Some of the our preschoolers who will be starting Kindergarten in February 2012 The Cost of the ProgramSince beginning in 2006 the cost to attend Covanic as well as the number of students participating in the program has continued to increase. In 2011 the approximate cost for 29 students was almost $15,000. It is only because God has blessed this endeavor and provided the funding through our generous supporters that we have been able to follow through with this program. The cost to scholarship one student is approximately $500 a year. Each year we ask the parents to provide that which they would normally provide if their child were to be attending a public school. That includes school uniforms, shoes, backpack and school supplies (notebooks, pencils, crayons, etc.) For many of our families even the cost of these items is a burden on their very minimal income. We often provide many of these supplies when we are able or direct the families to other programs where they can receive some assistance. The scholarship program provides the registration fee, monthly tuition, graduation fees, textbooks and a PE uniform. In the past, when the money has been available, we have also paid for one field trip per student each year.
Our FundingOur funding for this program has always come from outside our personal ministry donations. In 2011 we had 12 students personally sponsored, meaning a donor gave $500 to cover the educational costs for one student. These sponsors receive a first-day-of-school picture, some personal information about their student and a mid-year up-date and picture so they can pray for their student and family. In addition to personal sponsors this program is supported by the income from an Alternative Gift Market program at First Presbyterian Church of Bellevue, Washington. In the past this program has generated enough to fund one to two students a year. Another source of income to this program is our annual Nica Night and Nibble of Nicaragua fundraiser held in December of each year at the Woodinville Community United Methodist Church in Woodinville, Washington. This fundraiser adds approximately $2000 a year towards the scholarship program. The balance of the funds needed to meet the budget and cover the costs of these students comes from personal and church donations given to our ministry which are specified for the scholarship program. Goals for 2012In 2012, Lord willing, we will be enrolling an additional five students bringing the total number of students in the scholarship program to 34. Our goal is to double the number of sponsors that we currently have bringing the number of personal sponsors to 24. We hope to raise the additional $5000 needed to meet our scholarship budget from our annual Nica Night fund raiser in December 2011 (approximately $2000) and from the Alternative Gift Market fund raiser (approximately $500) with the remaining balance of approximately $2500 through ministry donations given specifically to the scholarship program.
How You Can HelpPrayer: Please pray for our ministry that we would always first and foremost put God and His plans before our own and that He would receive all the glory and honor as we seek to be obedient to Him in our service. Scholarship a student: We have students at every grade level that need a personal sponsor. Perhaps you feel led to sponsor a Kindergarten student and commit to seven years to see that student through 6th grade or perhaps, at this time, you could give a one-time gift of $500 to sponsor a child for one year or any amount to add to our general scholarship fund. Your decision to sponsor a student will help us achieve our goal of 24 sponsors in 2012. Present our program to your church mission board: Perhaps you could introduce us to the mission board at your church. With your encouragement and advocacy they might prayerfully consider including a donation to this program in their 2012 ministry budget. We would also be interested in meeting with your mission board to share our ministry in its entirety and if that opportunity should present itself we might be able to make arrangements to visit your church during one of our stateside visits. Share: Please share this information with others you know that might be interested in making a difference in the life of a young Nicaraguan child and their family. Do you have additional questions? Please don’t hesitate to contact us at amen@alongsideministries.org For more general ministry information please visit our websites: Serving Together with Joy, Please send all donations clearly marked with our names or Eastside Development |
