The BECA Brigade

This "community service as a brigade" idea is working out pretty good so far for BECA. It works like this:

1. A community project is recommended -- either by a student or by BECA administration. 
2. Some planning is done by BECA coordinator Antonio Rodriguez.
3. Invitations are sent to the current crop of technical career students.
4. The day arrives and, voila, something like this happens:

Why are these People Smiling?

You might recognize these seven Nicaraguans. They are famous for us here at BECA.

Why, you ask? Well for one, they are the home page "face" of BECA

More important than that, however, is that they are the first. The first to apply for technical career scholarships through BECA. The first to be sponsored. The first to finish their technical career course of studies.

And NOW . . . the first to begin their three-month apprenticeships: Manuel, Sorania, Maribel, Elvis - Tourism; Kenia, Francis - Secretary; Claudia - Executive Chef.

We are extremely grateful to these "Magnificent Seven" for growing with us; for being patient with us as we tried new things; for helping us nurture the "second" batch of applicants; and for hanging in there and finishing their course of studies.

Now, as they get their first taste of the "real world" we can't help but feel extremely proud of them.

The goal of BECA is that our scholarship recipients ultimately get jobs. Now they are another step closer.

Jesús is Gone

He is bright. He is articulate. He has loads of personality.

Jesús is Jesús David Flores. He received a scholarship through BECA to study Accounting and started in February. After two months, Jesús has called it quits and has withdrawn from his studies.

Jesús is the first BECA student to withdraw from technical career studies this year.

Why? Jesús told us that he had to go to work to help out his Mom, who is going through a hard time.

We've mentioned before in this space that life in Nicaragua can be complicated and for many a post-secondary education is a big luxury. The issue is the opportunity cost of not contributing to the family household financially.

As a result, we realistically expect that Jesús won't be the last student to quit BECA this year.

All, however, is not lost. BECA will apply the balance of his scholarship to another student "in need." And, 47 other students remain active (for now).

Nevertheless, it sucks to see such a promising young person quit.

BECA wishes Jesús the very best. Thanks for giving it a shot.

BECA Course One - Version 2010

BECA Course One 2010 started this week with 24 (mostly) excited young people.

[Quick refresher: Course One is a three month proving ground for the BECA program. Every student who wants to receive a scholarship to study a technical career has to "show their stuff" in Course One.]

What is my first impression of this group? It is impossible for me to say. In the past I've been wrong about students so many times, I've quit counting (and stopped guessing).

I'm quite curious how this group will turn out though because we used only word-of-mouth to attract students. That is, pretty much all of the students were referred by a Course One graduate.

Stay tuned.