S-U-R-P-R-I-S-E

As we have written in previous posts, one of the conditions for receiving a scholarship in the BECA program is the commitment of each becado to conduct a social project. We give our students the liberty to decide where, when, and how they want to conduct their project, and in return we have some liberty of our own: To visit by surprise.

Without warning, we verify social projects throughout the duration of Course One. If our students are present and conducting their social project when we arrive (at the times they have told us), then we believe they have honored their commitment. If students are not present when we arrive, we assume the project is not being conducted, and those students are ineligible to apply for BECA Intensive, the vocational scholarship.











As you can imagine, we have had mixed results in this effort. Many times our students are not there, or have changed times and not notified us. Because we have mixed results, we are constantly searching for new ways to encourage participation and emphasize the importance of this project for BECA.











In our minds, a social project is more than giving back to a community; it is a way for our students to distinguish themselves amongst their peers.











So you can also imagine that when we do arrive, and see that our students are hard at work giving something back to their community, we experience a great sense of pride. I can only speak for myself, and say that my pride has little to do with me, and everything to do with the satisfaction our students feel - that their work is appreciated and bettering the community.


Whether it is cleaning parks, planting trees, working in health centers, or volunteering at church, social projects bring out the best of our students, and the best of the BECA Program: Doing something for someone else.

To view more becados at work, click here.