The island of La Pirraya is a twenty-minute boat ride from Puerta Parada through the Jiquilisco Bay in El Salvador. Boats motor past fishing villages and mangrove wetlands. The islands in the bay are home to some of the poorest people in this Central American nation.
That’s why, after years of operating a thriving scholarship program on the mainland and serving the island students in a borrowed facility, Srs. Marita Capili, SP, and Marcia Gatica, SP, convinced the Sisters of Providence’s El Salvador Association Board to fund and build a new center to serve the students who live on the islands. The land was donated.
The dedication ceremony included a Sunday Mass with the local bishop and lunch as well as skits, singing, dancing and testimonials by scholarship recipients.
Around 300 people joined to celebrate this milestone. The students attended, of course, along with family, friends, a delegation from Arcatao where Sr. Vilma Franco, SP, ministers, Providence St. Joseph Health Sponsors, local diocesan officials and members of the El Salvador Association Board.
Core to the Beca program is community involvement. (See https://tinyurl.com/ES-Beca for full background.) Students must maintain grades, attend workshops and engage in a solidarity project to better their community.
“Being part of the program has allowed us to carry on a project of loving solidarity,” explained Glenda, studying for her bachelor’s in social work. She designed and runs a painting and art project for girls and adolescents.
“Beca recipients are making positive changes in our communities leaving good marks but it does have challenges. In my case, weather, migration and illness have made scheduling difficult at times. God has given me the strength to carry on. I have the support of my mother and I am committed to continue learning with the children.”
It is difficult, when having to work to support their families, for many young people to attend school. The Beca program has enabled students who thought they had no prospect of a formal education to pursue one.
“If God wills it, we will be the first professionals in our family,” explained Lisandro, who is studying for a bachelor’s degree in English. “We are very grateful to the Sisters of Providence for giving us this opportunity.”
Before the new building, Beca students on the islands met at a facility run by the Sisters of Charity. Now students have their own place to grow and develop into educated, involved members of their communities.
“Being part of this Providencia family has allowed me to develop psychologically and academically,” says Edwin, who joined the program last year. “I’ve interacted with different people who have taught me to be a better person every day and to think differently.
“Being in this family teaches us one of the most important values today: responsibility,” he continued. “We can freely express ourselves without being judged or feeling judged. Being part of this family has helped me believe in myself and to know that there are many people who care about me.”
The new building has not been formally named yet.
To support the Beca Program and other Sisters of Providence ministries visit https://tinyurl.com/MotherJosephDonate.
