Scholarship Program
And counting...
Cost of a high school scholarship per year: $700
Cost of a college scholarship per year: $1,600
Breaking the cycle of poverty one student at a time
Education is one of the pillars of BAM and we believe it is our most powerful tool to break the cycle of poverty. Many parents in the homes we build do not have a high school, or sometimes even an elementary school, education. When we build a home for a family, we hope that will be the last generation to be born into poverty. That is why we require all of the kids from BAM homes to stay in school and we do everything in our power to help them accomplish that. Thanks to our generous sponsors, BAM offers educational scholarships for high school and college.
The money that the students receive from BAM pays for their school registration, transportation costs to and from school, and books. In addition, our scholarship students receive free tutoring and psychological services at the Community Center. Our BAM educational team works very hard to provide support for all of the students and follow up with any student that is struggling in school or at home. We try to set them up with everything possible to help them succeed.
Having great support from the Community Center makes me very happy because they help me and motivate me to finish my studies. Being a scholarship holder has also helped me improve as a person. Something I love about the Community Center is that they always welcome me with open arms. I am very grateful that the sponsors help us to fulfill our dreams that sometimes may seem impossible to achieve, but in reality, we are able to strive to make them come true. That is something that I greatly admire from people with a big heart like you.
Valeria
How the scholarship program began
In 2007, we were on a build day and one of our long term volunteers, Jack, asked Selene, the girl from the house we were building, if she would want to go to college. When she said yes, he offered to pay for her college education and that is how our scholarship program began!
This is Selene – our first college graduate – who now has her masters in psychology. After receiving her scholarship, she spent years counseling families and individuals at the Community Center as well as teaching classes to teens on making good choices, conflict resolution, schooling, and career opportunities.
This picture is from the day that Selene met her sponsor, Jack.
Program Requirements
The students “pay” for their scholarships by doing community service. They are also required to take several courses at the Community Center to help prepare them for school and life beyond. These courses include university preparation, English, computer skills, and various psychology courses covering topics such as addiction, violence, bullying, motivation, and parent-child interaction.
Some of the ways our scholarship students earn their volunteer hours:
- Volunteering at the Community Center
- Tutoring other students
- Giving classes to adults in the BAM Accredited Adult Education school
- Assisting with the Dads Program doing construction projects to improve families’ living situations
- Spending time with elderly people through our Grandparent Program
- Participating in community clean-up projects
- Helping with BAM home building projects
- Leading a workshop at the Community Center in a subject they are passionate about
- Creating flyers and advertisements for the BAM Community Center
- Maintaining the BAM vegetable garden
- And so much more!
Get to know a few of our successful graduates
We are very proud of all our graduates, each of them have overcome countless obstacles and worked incredibly hard to get to where they are today. Many of them have even continued studying beyond college – we now have two medical doctors, a lawyer, a CPA, and several students who have gone on to get their master’s degrees. Meet a few of our graduates below.
Dulce and Ana Karen
Dulce and Ana Karen went to medical school at the Autonomous University of Baja California on BAM scholarships. During their studies, they volunteered at the BAM Community Center and surrounding communities, bringing medical care to many different people. They graduated in 2021 and are both working in clinics as general practitioners. When she graduated, Dulce said, “Thank you to the BAM Community Center for being present at every stage, for teaching me humility and humanity. They taught me to see things from another perspective and they were always there to support me financially, physically and emotionally.”
The Torres Pacheco Triplets
These gifted triplets have incredible natural artistic talent. They received BAM scholarships to study art at the Autonomous University of Baja California in 2018 and now work as artists. The three of them have a unique connection and all work on the same art pieces together. They now sell commissioned artwork and have also been hired by different people throughout Tijuana to complete art projects. They have always been generous and motivated and have graciously offered to donate a portion of their proceeds from their commissioned artwork to help support BAM. Reach out to us if you want to commission a piece from them!
Lizbeth Ojeda Medina
Liz was our second ever college graduate in 2013. She studied graphic design and computer systems. Like most of our scholarship recipients, Liz was the first person in her family to go to college. In a community where most of the adults had not graduated from middle or high school, let alone college, the courage that she had to pursue a degree was, in a way, revolutionary. After graduating, while she was working as a graphic designer, she continued to support BAM, helping others in her community achieve their dreams. She is now the director of education at the BAM Community Center. In this position she helps to run our education program, after school and summer school classes, scholarship program, various community outreach programs, and so much more!
What our scholarship recipients have to say
I feel incredibly grateful and fortunate in my life. Just two years ago, I experienced constant stress and anxiety because I was uncertain about my future and that of my family. We lived in a humble house, and I struggled to enter school for several years. However, since the Community Center extended its hand, I finally gained admission to university, and my family now has a secure roof over our heads. These improvements have had a positive impact on my mood, allowing me to sleep better at night.
Miguel
Without a doubt, I wouldn’t have been able to continue my studies without your support. Although my parents are incredibly supportive and have big hearts, they face financial constraints. With three more siblings to care for, managing all our needs becomes challenging. Currently, my father is an elderly man, a remarkable individual who has always taken care of us. However, due to health issues, he can no longer work for extended periods. He has his own food business to support us, and it is even more challenging because rents in Tijuana are expensive, and we live in an apartment. However, thanks to you, I can overcome these difficulties and continue with my studies and strive to become a better person.
Luz Yazmin
I am studying my second quarter of renewable energy engineering. Honestly, I am very happy with my degree and I have learned a lot about it. I have industrial drawing classes and I complement it with my 3D design classes that I take on Saturdays at the Community Center. I feel that I have learned a lot and have had great personal growth. If it weren’t for you this wouldn’t be possible, thanks to your support I’ve continued to study from high school until now, and I couldn’t be more grateful to you for that. My goal is to finish my studies and in the future be able to support my community as you have done.
Jara
At the Community Center, I am actively involved in Social Management under the guidance of Professor Ana María. This role entails managing the center’s procedures, acquiring permits, addressing paving needs, and providing support. Being part of this area has brought about a significant change in me. I have gained a broader perspective and learned not to fear expressing myself and advocating for the needs of communities. I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to learn many things. This year alone, we have successfully managed paperwork for paving, drainage, permits for business setups, and crucial permits from firefighters. We have also provided assistance to homeless individuals, delivered homes, and organized recreational activities for young people. What I find most fulfilling is being able to offer solutions to people who seek our support and witnessing how this positively impacts their lives.
Luz
Read a newsletter written by our scholarship students:
