Mission Santa Maria supports exceptional students in pursuit of university degrees.
Most of the students in this program come from Esperanza Home for Children and would otherwise have no hope of receiving post high school education. The program pays for housing, food, healthcare, and university required supplies for each student during their years in university.
A university diploma can lead to a well-paying job in Ecuador, elevating these young men and women out of poverty for the first time in their families’ history.
2023 Updates and Accomplishments
In 2023, Mission Santa Maria supported 23 students to be able to attend university and 5 students graduated. To date, the university program has 9 graduates.
In 2023, Mission Santa Maria enrolled 5 high-school graduates in our new work-study program in partnership with DP World, an international shipping company. The students are studying engineering while interning at the shipping port for 2 years. The program will open doors to employment opportunities in electro-mechanical careers such as those needed in shipping and many other industries.