In 1996, CIS began a program to support grassroots organizing.   The communities the CIS worked with told us that they had a strong commitment to social justice and human rights, but they could not put food on the table.   The CIS reflected with the communities and our international solidarity partners and proposed the ideas of the Youth Formation and Scholarship Program, as well as the Women’s Small Businesses Program. These programs were to be tools for empowering local communities to be protagonists in their own development.

The first CIS supported scholarship program began in Cinquera, Cabañas in 1997. The program paid the transportation costs for youth to go to junior high and high school in neighboring municipalities.  Solidarity partners and the CIS were moved by the story of Antonio Alvarenga, a young man from Cinquera. As a young man he had had no other option but to go off to war, despite suffering from physical ailments.   When the war ended, Antonio wanted to realize his dream of studying to become a doctor. However, he was told there was no money and he had to go to the fields and perform heavy physical labor. As a result, Antonio took his own life.  Subsequently, a scholarship fund was set up in his name so that no other youth would be prevented from studying due to a lack of funds. In Cinquera, no one went to high school before or during the war. A high school did not even exist in Cinquera until 2012. As of 2011, 23 students have graduated from University.

In 2001, after two devastating earthquakes, the CIS received donations for emergency aid, organizing, and development.  The CIS was looking to invest small donations in projects that would have a long-term impact, instead of simply giving hand-outs to resolve immediate needs. When the CIS visited the municipality of Estanzuelas, Usulután to discuss ideas for investing a small donation, the mayor told the CIS he did not want rice and beans. He insisted that such a donation would only meet peoples’ needs for a few days. He asked if the donation could be invested in education so that the communities could begin to solve their own problems. Thus began the second program.

With a great deal of support from Father Jerry Waris, the CIS has been able to develop 12 international solidarity partnerships that support the Program. International solidarity partners are organizations, institutions, and foundations that are matched to a sister community. They work hand-in-hand to provide educational opportunities and contribute to local development. The CIS works with at least five additional communities who have an organizational base, economic need, and a commitment to youth formation. However, they are in need of long-term partners in order to transform their communities.

Formation + Scholarship + Organization

Why Formation?

• For the CIS, education  is not just about formal schooling. Education is learning, teaching, raising awareness, and guiding youth, through popular education, to  become protagonists in their own reality.
• The students are committed to social justice and to transforming themselves and their communities.

Why Scholarship?

• For many low-income families there are no schools in their towns and they do not have enough money to pay for transportation, books, tuition, uniforms and other  supplies.

Why Organization?

• The goal of the Program is to contribute to local development. Without an  organized base, educated youth often leave their communities.
• Through formation, education, and volunteer projects, the community and the students work together toward the greater goal of social justice and self-determination.

Total Scholarships in 2012: 94 University and 203 High School

How the Youth Formation and Scholarship Program Works

The CIS Formation and Scholarship Program supports marginalized youth in their struggle to get an education and contribute to human development.  The programs we support range from groups of 5-65 high school and university students, all of which are managed by a local committee.  In addition, the CIS has grassroots organizers that coordinate among each community, the CIS, and the international solidarity partners.  They also organize a yearly retreat where students from each program share their experiences and learn from each other.

The Local Salvadoran Committee

One of the unique features of our Program is that in each community there is a local scholarship committee. They meet to supervise the community service projects, work on formation activities, visit each of the student’s homes, and resolve other issues. It is also their responsibility to choose the scholarship recipients based on our criteria, including: 1. economic need, 2. commitment to social change, 3. requirement of at least 50% females in each program, 4. grades (in the case of university scholarships). The CIS’ primary requirement is based on economic need due to the f
act that students with scarce economic resources are not in ideal learning environments. They frequently need to work to help support their families; they may go to school without breakfast; and their parents often have low levels of education. As a result, these students usually do not get the top grades.

The International Solidarity Partner Committee

Each community has at least one long-term international solidarity partner organization, institution, church, or foundation.  All international solidarity partner organizations set a scholarship goal and raise funds. These groups are a very important part of the communication between students, donors, and the CIS.  Ideally, the committee organizes a yearly delegation for their organization’s participants to visit El Salvador and learn more about the reality and the ways in which, together with  the students, they are contributing to human development.

Formation

By participating in the CIS Formation and Scholarship Program, students not only receive a formal education, but also develop critical thinking and leadership skills. In addition, they have the opportunity to learn about subjects they do not receive in school. One of our objectives is to  encourage youth to give back to their communities by using their education for     development and social transformation within El Salvador. An integral part of the Program is raising the youth’s awareness of a variety of social issues. Students participate in workshops on gender relations, conflict resolution, human rights, the environment, and analysis of the Salvadoran reality, among other topics.

Community Service

Each student is required to do a yearly community service project.  Through these projects, students put into practice what they are learning, develop leadership skills, contribute to local development, and learn to value the knowledge in their communities.  As part of their formation, the students in San Rafael Cedros have participated in workshops and trainings on sustainability, food sovereignty, and the environment. When it came time to plan their community service projects, the students decided to create a community garden.  In other communities, students choose to contribute to CIS projects like their town Clean Water Committee or a local women’s business. Others create original projects such as teaching the history of El Salvador, offering computer classes, and much more.

Student's Testimonies 

This is scholarship student, Luis from La Loma, Comasagua with his proud parents.  He was the top in his class in electronics.  He lives in a community where there is no electricity.

Partners' Experiences

How to get Involved:

 1. Become a Partner Organization. 

 Make a long-term commitment with your organization (church, community group, foundation, etc.) to support a scholarship program.  We have communities with economic need that are organized, but who are lacking an international solidarity partner.  You could start a program supporting as few as five students. Email us for more information: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

2. Contribute to Scholarships in an Existing Program.

You could open another spot in an existing program. Make a commitment to contribute to a scholarship for a high school or university student.  For high school it is a three year commitment of $300.00 each year.  For university it is a six year commitment of $1,200 each year. Amounts may vary according to local program. Email us for more information:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

3. Contribute to the Grassroots Organizing Fund.

The Formation and Scholarship Program is a success due in large part to our grassroots organizers who work in the communities.  They are the essential link among the local scholarship committees, the students, the CIS, and the international solidarity partners.  By contributing to this fund you would help us pay their organizing expenses, salaries, health care, and other benefits.

4. Contribute to the Annual Scholarship Student Forum

Each year we host a retreat with the scholarship recipients from all over the country. Here they share their experiences and learn from one another.  By contributing to this fund you would help us pay for the students’ and organizers’ lodging, transportation, food, and materials.

Read what partipants have said about our Formation and Scholarship Program on the CIS Blog!

Blog entries on Youth Formation:

The Third Annual Scholarship Student Forum

Hugs from Districto Italia

2012 Year End Summary: Scholarship Recipients from the San Francisco de Asís Parish

Kansas City Church Delegation