How a student group is inspiring youth to stay in school
Meet young adults who are excited to expand their career potential
By Karla Ramírez, monitoring and evaluation officer, Nicaragua
Axel (pictured) sits down in a brightly lit university library in Managua. It’s silent except for the occasional laugh. He turns to me with a friendly smile. “[Growing up, my family didn’t have much], but every time I saw a computer, I wanted to know everything,” he says.
The bright and outgoing student was in the final year of a four-year university program in Systems and Technologies Engineering when we spoke, and he has a degree in Leadership and Political Management. “JUPAC changed my life completely,” he shares. “Without it, I would not have realized the importance of
Axel is referring to a youth leadership program donors to Christian Children’s Fund of Canada (CCFC) helped create in Nicaragua six years ago. It encourages youth to focus on their education and contribute to their community through local activities, workshops
In a country where there are few job opportunities — and only five out of 10 children complete primary school, according to the Inter-American Development Bank — motivating youth to stay in school and give back to their community is incredibly important. Donor support is inspiring them to see beyond poverty and to dream big. That’s why there are many students like Axel.
“I am studying international relations and foreign trade,” shares Irina, a serious and soft-spoken member of JUPAC. “I like this
Rodrigo, another member, is studying architecture at university.
JUPAC changed Betzy’s life, too. “It has been my
As I finish chatting with Axel, he sums up his impressions of JUPAC: “It’s a community space in which the lives of many young people without opportunities are transformed,” he says. Now that’s something to smile about.
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About Christian Children’s Fund of Canada:
Christian Children’s Fund of Canada (CCFC) is a