Good morning! If you’ve been keeping up with my blog income reports on Make Money Your Way, you probably know that since launching my second website in July 2013, I’ve committed 10% of my blogging income to provide scholarships for young students in my village. Initially, the plan was to offer two scholarships to the top two girls about to graduate middle school, so they could attend high school or trade school.
As of now, my education fund has accumulated $404 from July, $253 from August, $297 from September, $357 from October, and $269 from November, totaling $1,580. One of my readers kindly decided to match my donations up to $2,000 and has already contributed the full amount. This brings the total available to $3,580, which will significantly support the initiative.
When I visited the village school to offer the scholarships, I spoke with the director and the third-grade teacher (the grade before high school). Surprisingly, the top student was a boy, and the second was a girl. Initially, I planned to send the top student to boarding school with a full scholarship for three years. I asked the girl who came in second about her interests, as I had mentioned that the second-ranking student would receive a scholarship to trade school. However, upon visiting the trade school, I noticed the options for girls were quite limited, mainly focusing on nail decoration and beauty school, with more diverse options like mechanics and refrigeration, and a moderately appealing cooking school option.
When I asked the girl what she was interested in, she mentioned cooking school but wasn’t very enthusiastic. She had researched the available careers and mentioned she preferred secretary school. When I asked what she would study if anything was possible, she expressed a desire to become a primary school teacher. Given the surprise $2,000 donation, I realized I could afford boarding school for both the top boy and her. She was thrilled at the chance to pursue her true interest.
The boy, shy and introverted, wants to become an accountant. He excels in math and is very motivated to attend boarding school. The school, chosen by a neighbor who sponsors previous valedictorians, is one of the best in the country, though it is expensive.
We have enrolled the kids, and they are extremely excited. I’ve received the full pricing details for their needs. They require items for their dorms, including a mattress, light bulb, Bible (since it’s a private school), bed sheets, curtains, chair, broom, mop, and bin. The dorms accommodate four students sharing a bathroom and they must keep it clean. The tuition, including room, board, and lab usage, costs $2,507 per student, with a $30 room damage deposit. Uniforms cost $88 per student, and essential dorm items are estimated at $100 per student. This totals $2,695 per student, or $5,390 for both. After the $2,000 reader donation, my share is $3,390.
The families are still responsible for hygiene items, clothes, and monthly transportation back to the village. This involvement ensures they value the opportunity and, if needed, I will help cover transportation costs for good grades.
I have $1,580 in my fund for the $3,390 tuition, leaving me needing $1,810 by December 2014. At current online income rates, I should reach this by May, giving me June to December to save again for future years, as I will need $5,000 in 2015 and 2016 if no further donations come.
Beyond these scholarships, I am also funding smaller scholarships for younger kids to attend primary and middle school, providing essentials like shoes, school supplies, and uniforms. It costs about $30 to send a child to school, and I told teachers to send me families in need. I cover these costs fully, expecting nothing in return.
So far, only 10 out of 30 primary school graduates have registered for middle school, primarily due to lack of funds. If 14 enrollments aren’t reached, the state won’t provide a teacher, so I’m trying to support the four kids still needed. This might cost around $500, depending on final enrollments.
Education is very important to me. If you’d like to learn more about this project or donate, any amount is appreciated. You can reach me at tdmpauline@gmail.com, which is also my PayPal address. I will cover any fees to ensure the full donation goes to the project.
Happy Holidays!