Mariano and his wife, Lilian, didn’t want their four children to share the too-common story for youth in their city. In Capiatá, Paraguay, more and more students are dropping out of school at the end of high school because they can’t afford higher studies. The kinds of informal jobs they can find with only a high school diploma won’t pay enough for them to save for university. Dreams of higher education fade quickly.
Their eldest, also Mariano, was reaching the end of high school with the support of his Chalice sponsor through the Don Bosco site. Like his peers, he had dreams of higher education. But his parents had no means to afford the daily bus tickets he would need, let alone tuition.
The Don Bosco site staff wanted to change Mariano (the younger’s) story, too. They have partnered with Chalice to support twenty sponsored high school graduates to attend a local technical school or university.
Now 20, Mariano is one of the selected students. The impressive group are pursuing a wide array of programs and careers, including psychology, law, radiology, education, nursing, and engineering. Mariano has chosen to focus on business administration.
“I want to express… the emotion and joy of being able to continue my studies,” Mariano says.
“With this help I will be able to continue my studies, and I will be able to advance towards the achievement and completion of my Business Administration degree.”
Everyone who supports the Don Bosco site’s project will contribute to the twenty students’ higher education fees, such as tuition, exams, textbooks, and transportation.
Mariano can’t wait to start, or to finish.
“Then I can enter the world of work, which is my greatest desire — to fulfill myself as a young person, to help my parents, and my community.”