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.
2022 Updates and Accomplishments
In 2022, Mission Santa Maria supported 18 students to be able to attend university. To date, the university program has 4 graduates, all of whom are professionally employed with full benefits.
In 2022, Mission Santa Maria continued to strengthen the University Program to increase psychosocial support and mentoring to the scholars. We hired a university program alum to be the ‘program coordinator’ giving much needed support and structure to the growing program.
Additionally in 2022, Mission Santa Maria launched a work-study program in partnership with DP World, an international shipping company. Mission Santa Maria high-school graduates can apply to the two year work-study program. The program will open doors to employment opportunities in electro-mechanical careers such as those needed in shipping and many other industries.