Scholarships 

During the first visits by the students of Nerinx Hall to Guarjila, the students and the town council identified a need for their Guarjila sisters to be able to attend school. Many families would send their boys to the equivalent of high school but did not make it possible for the girls to attend past the elementary level.

Instead of giving monies directly to families because the Nerinx girls would not know who might really need the help, it was decided that the money would be given to the town council who would distribute the funds to those who needed it most. The first groups of Nerinx students decided to hold a fun volleyball tournament during January or February each year (the visits are currently held during the Nerinx spring break in March) with all of the proceeds going to the scholarship fund. 

With the election of Mauricio Funes, tuition for elementary and secondary education began to be paid for by the state. At the same time, a number of the young women of Guarjila who had been helped to attend the high school had grown and were wanting to go to a university. Although tuition is low, students have to pay to live (or for daily transportation - there are no dorms), for food, for books, and even to take exams. In conjunction with the town council, Nerinx students decided to use the monies raised for help for young women to go to a university.

The volleyball tournament and the scholarship fund continue. During the spring break visits, the Nerinx students meet with the young women who are recipients of the funds.

If you would be interested in helping with this project, contact the office for more information. If you want to send a check, please put "Guarjila Scholarships" in the memo line.