The Moises Stansberry Education Fund

According to law, children assigned to the Stansberry Children's Home are under the Home's care until they reach the age of 16. In practice the majority stay at the Home until 18 years of age. During this time the Home provides for the children's physical, spiritual and educational welfare. They feel safe and protected even if on occasion they are rebellious.

When they reach the age of 18 these young people must make the difficult transition from a highly protected environment to general Bolivian society. This transition is tough in any society. But in Bolivia, where finding entry is frequently dependent on family connections, it is doubly difficult especially for a young person who almost by definition lacks the connection with people who can open the doors to higher education and to employment.

It was with this need in mind that the educational fund was established following the tragic death of Moises Stansberry in December of 1997. Moises Stansberry was a role model for the children and young people at the Home. After leaving, he maintained his devotion to his faith, studied conscientiously to improve his skills and worked hard and very successfully at his job with a petroleum company. He also made time to visit the Home frequently. Following his death, Ronald Larsen worked with determination to establish a fund that would help other young people from the Home to follow his example. An educational committee (which now consists of six members) was formed to encourage Home leavers to obtain post secondary training and to help them find employment.

Initially the program was oriented toward university education but recently we have become aware that shorter term technical training focusing on the learning of very specific job skills is important as well. This includes participating in programs offered by technical high schools. Especially through the efforts of Solomon Mwangi there is also a greater emphasis on the individual's responsibility for managing his or her educational program and the money provided. You could call it adulthood training.

To date 12 Home leavers and members of the Stanberry's extended family have been assisted under this program. (Details are available on the Stansberry Home website) The programs followed and the circumstances are varied. The following are a few examples:

Maria Gutierrez entered the Universidad Catolica Boliviana on graduating from high school in pursuit of a medical degree. She has completed the five years of class training with good results and is now in her first year of an eighteen month internship program which should terminate in her receiving a doctorate.

Susana Olmos Melgar left the Home to marry and then applied to be part of the program after the birth of two children. She is now studying in her third semester at the Universidad Evangelica Boliviana to be a laboratory technician.

Rebecca Araúl Stansberry (the daughter of Raquel Stansberry) is in her third year at Universidad Domingo Savio studying public relations.

Juan Carlos Carrillo lacked interest in formal high school studies but showed an aptitude for taking care of animals. He is now participating in a one year agricultural program at the INFOCAL technical training center in Conception. He is the first to take advantage of shorter term technical training.

In all there are currently 10 young people involved in post high school studies.

A lot of improvements still have to be made. It is important for the committee to learn more about the strengths and weaknesses of each person before they are ready to leave the Home. It is important to continue to investigate educational and job opportunities that are available and then to match each young person with the most suitable program. It is important for the committee to listen carefully to the young people and for the youth to responsibly establish the priorities that will lead to well adjusted life in society. We ask you to pray for the young people and the committee members.