For many North American high school graduates, simply deciding on a career path can feel overwhelming because of the endless options open to them. But for youth in the communities we support, from Bolivia, Ukraine, and India to Haiti, Tanzania, and beyond, the opportunity to attend a trade school or university can feel like an impossible dream.
Yet, no young person should ever be left behind simply because of where they were born. When given the chance to pursue higher education and break the cycle of poverty, resilient youth across the globe eagerly grasp the opportunity with both hands and run with it.
This National Opportunity Day (August 7, 2026), we are reminded of how powerful that simple gift can be — and the incredible journeys of students like Luis, Gladwin, and Amrutha show us what happens when barriers are removed.
A Sponsor’s Gift, A Nurse’s Future
Luis, now 24, comes from a large family near our Chiclayo site in Peru, where consistent work was scarce. His parents struggled to keep up with his school fees, putting his education at risk. But Luis held fast to his lifelong dream of becoming a nurse. Thanks to the Child Sponsorship Program, he received the support he needed to complete high school and successfully gain admission to nursing school.
With the kindness of his sponsor, Luis’ tuition and book fees for school were covered and he will be graduating as a nurse this year.
“With the support you provide, I will be able to become a great health professional, helping my parents and siblings financially and setting an example for my two brothers.”
From Hardship to Opportunity
Across the globe in Kenya, Gladwin shared a similar drive to transform her life through learning. Her family faced severe financial hardship after her father passed away during her Grade 6 year, leaving them struggling to afford basic essentials.
Fortunately, Gladwin entered our sponsorship program the following year. Thanks to generous donor support, her school fees were covered, freeing her to focus entirely on her studies.
That investment paid off. Gladwin graduated secondary school with top marks, earning admission to university to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Education.
Throughout her journey, Gladwin drew strength not only from financial aid, but from the spiritual and emotional encouragement of her sponsor and local faith community. Driven by a passion to fight poverty and illiteracy in her community, she remained steadfast in her goals.
Today, Gladwin is celebrating her graduation as a qualified teacher. She credits her success to God’s faithfulness and the constant support Chalice and her sponsor gave her. Armed with her degree, she is ready to inspire the next generation and aims to pay it forward by supporting other vulnerable children by giving them the same opportunity she received.
An Opportunity Realized
In a remote village in India, Amrutha was chasing her dream to become a teacher — a dream that felt out of reach. After her father passed away, her mother worked tirelessly as a single parent to support her two daughters, pushing through hardship and her own grief to prioritize their education.
But that all changed when the Sisters of the Good Shepherd connected Amrutha with the sponsorship program. The financial relief and encouragement she received gave her the confidence to aim high in a community where girls are rarely pushed to excel. She ultimately earned her Bachelor of Science in Computer Science — a success won through her persistent determination, long hours in the library, and overcoming language and cultural barriers.
Now standing at the front of her own classroom, Amrutha wants to offer her students the same opportunity she was given. “A thankful heart is a magnet for miracles,” she says.
For Amrutha — and for so many young people around the world — sponsorship was the miracle that revealed her inner strength and turned a distant dream into a reality.
This National Opportunity Day, you can sponsor a child and help bring their dreams within reach.
