The Starting Point

We met Tania and Ariel in primary school when they, like most future E2E students, didn’t know where or how they would continue studying after 6th grade.

There was no secondary school within 2 hours walking distance of their community. Their parents, both single mothers, had an average 3rd grade education level and many in their community dismissed education as having value.

Our Work Begins

Once enrolled as E2E scholarship recipients, Tania and Ariel entered 7th grade and began leadership training to better understand how poverty affected their community. They were able to see the E2E students that had come before them be the ones responsible for the new electricity they now enjoyed, hold literacy classes for adults, and help minimize trash build up. Now it was their turn.

After drawing community maps, conducting household surveys, and collaborating with their classmates, Tania and Ariel put their plans into action and began impacting the lives of their most vulnerable neighbors.

People recognize us now. We’re famous in our community because we support others. And for that we are very grateful to E2E because they taught us how to serve and how to become great leaders. — Ariel

Tania and Ariel quickly became promoted as peer leaders to train incoming students. They traveled to nearby communities to meet with other secondary school students and help guide them through the process of identifying the most pressing needs they faced.

Both E2E leaders will continue their education through 11th grade — the last year of high school — and receive access to internships, off-site English courses, University connections, E2E’s youth hub for technology, and seed capital to support a class-run business idea.

One of the most important things that we learn through our discussions with students is that the journey is not only about personal success and triumphs, but rather being the first in a family or a community to earn an education carries great responsibility and pride.

An excerpt from Ariel’s 9th grade graduation speech speaks to this point:

Graduating 9th grade has always been a goal of mine, but I must say that it is only a short-term goal because I have many goals. The truth is I want my family and [E2E] to feel proud for having supported me because the truth is not everyone gets this kind of opportunity. I have very big goals, so big that sometimes even I question them. But I want to be a representative of [my community] so people look at Pajarillos as a place where the people are educated.