Comments on: Child Sponsorship: Life After Graduation

By: annabelle

annabelle — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 16:52:04 +0000

wow, even though many of these kids do not make it to high school, it sounds like they are far better prepared for “the real world” than American students. I was 16 when I completed high school and I was not formally taught any vocational skills. Almost everything I know about domestic duties (which are my current vocation [nanny] and my aspiration [to stay home once I have kids]) was due to my extracurricular activities, time with family, and practice in my jobs. I believe life skills are more important than a certificate/diploma, etc. That is not to say education is without value, but it is not the most important thing

By: Vicki Small

Vicki Small — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:13:13 +0000

Linda, I have seen stories, both here and in other Compassion publications, of other formerly-sponsored children who have been released from poverty through Compassion’s ministry and are making a difference in their communities–without going on to college. Some use the skills and knowledge they have gained in a trade to start their own businesses. Of those businesses, at least some of them do so well that employees are added–helping others to get out of poverty.

We hear a lot about LDP students and graduates, and no, not all of them go into the areas you mentioned. One thing I really like about LDP is that it is not limited to students going into a narrow range of fields.

The fact is that the program works, both for the few who go on to university and for those who do not. Stick around–or go into the archives of this blog and read some of the posts about graduates of the sponsorship program. They’re so uplifting!

By: Linda

Linda — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 21:39:22 +0000

I have a question:

I have just started sponsoring a 4 yr old girl so I don’t know anything about life in/out of college. It seems that the only ones who get any attention are the ones in the scientific fields. All of them can’t go on to become engineers or doctors, etc. What about the ones (and I am sure there are some) who don’t go on to school or aspire to be something that “grand”. Are only a certain class of people given the attention and the others looked down on?

By: Vicki Small

Vicki Small — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 23:03:49 +0000

Thank you for the information, Chris. I’ll be armed, should any sponsor or potential sponsor ask about Mexico.

By: Cesiah Magana

Cesiah Magana — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 22:54:25 +0000

Vicki and Sara -

The maximum completion age for the sponsorship program in Mexico is 18.

The leadership of the program at each development center has a close relationship with all the children registered with them and monitors children completing their program. All the children in this group were candidates to graduate because they completed the requirements of the program.

The youngsters were interviewed to ensure they have reached the outcomes appropriate to their age and the goals set for the children registered in our programs. Then the church planned a graduation ceremony and since they were grouped together most were only 17 and the oldest was then about to become 18.

Although it seems sad not all sponsorship program graduates get into high school. Depending on their circumstances some might just start working before they finish high school and Compassion ensures they have the skills to earn a living.

According to the organization for economic co operation and development (OECD) only 50% of youngsters in Mexico between the ages of 16 and 18 have access to education. Half of them are not able to make it into high school some due to economic situation, some due to lack of opportunities like not having a high school close in their town and some because they just look for job opportunities instead of education.

Although Compassion Mexico does not have an exact percentage of youngsters attending high school we estimate 30% of our registered children have the opportunity to make it.

Although the reality is not all of our graduates complete high school, they are still considered successful if they are able to:

1 Demonstrate commitment to the lordship of Christ

2 Choose good health practices and is physically healthy

3 Exhibit the motivation and skills to be economically self-supporting

4 Interact with other people in a healthy and compassionate manner

Finally in regards to the vocational skills students learn, it depends on the development center they are registered in, because each center designs the workshops according to the area of opportunities they have in their community and according to their possibilities.

The most popular activities we know are carpentry, woodcarving, bakery, hairdressing, cooking, dressmaking, blacksmithing, electricity, handcrafts local to the area like hammock making, pottery or others, etc.

By: Sherry

Sherry — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 18:48:55 +0000

I have become a member of Compassion’s new website called our compassion. I found 4 other children and their sponsors who are at my child’s Child Center. It is a great website. Check it out:
http://www.ourcompassion.org.

By: Vicki Small

Vicki Small — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:32:11 +0000

Ahem. A simple “Thanks, Chris” is too short for this program. I guess I could have just repeated it. )

By: Chris Giovagnoni

Chris Giovagnoni — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 16:42:55 +0000

Vicki and Sara,

I’ve asked Cesiah to answer your questions.

By: Vicki Small

Vicki Small — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 16:05:18 +0000

I am also surprised that these students had graduated from the program, already. Some of them are not even 18 years old, and most have not completed high school; some haven’t even begun it. So can you provide answers to these questions, pretty please?

Why are the students deemed ready to graduate before they complete high school?

Approximately what percentage are not able to go on to high school, because they have graduated from the program?

What skills have they been able to learn before they finish high school that will provide for them and their families?

By: Jeanette

Jeanette — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 01:40:04 +0000

I had a child who graduated from the program.. I do not know what she is doing now but I know she became a preschool teacher. She wanted to be a nurse but her academics were not high enough. I appreciate the fact that Compassion works with those unable to go further in school and helps them find a good vocation.