And Now For Something Completely Different

BECA got its hands on a video camera -- thanks to BECA director Suzanne Bourne.

All together we did four video profiles of new sponsorship candidates. You can check them all out on our spanking new Youtube channel.

Special thanks to BECA student (and ambassador) Sorania Davila. Sorania did the filming.

I like the idea of having videos filmed by the students for the students.

You like?





Aside: My niece Serena would be so proud. You see, it was only six months ago that I called it "the youtube."

Course One 2009 Results

Okay, now that BECA Course One is officially over for 2009, I have some numbers for those of you who pay attention to that kind of stuff.

• 123 students started Course One in 2009
• 97 (or 79% of them) finished
  
• Of those 97 graduates, 65 have applied for a technical career (phase two of the BECA program)

That means 67% of the students who finished the initial screening course have applied for a second scholarship.

That's a lot more than I expected.

The next step is to sort through all of these applications and start putting them on the Web. We're doing that now and we expect to start posting profiles at the end of August.

BECA Non-Desertion Day

One of the biggest challenges BECA faces is minimizing student desertion. We've heard that desertion in other post-secondary programs in Nicaragua ranges from 40 to 60 percent in Nicaragua.

This made me really nervous because I didn't think BECA would fly if we encountered those kinds of drop-out rates. I mean, who would want to sponsor a student if there was such a good chance that they would quit?

Here is a breakdown of the last 50 BECA Course One students -- some of whom you can see smiling below. (More pictures here.)

Monday to Friday course: 25 started and 22 finished. 88% completion rate. Not too shabby.

Sunday course: 20 started and 17 finished. 85% completion rate. Still pretty good.

Now here's the ugly one.

Saturday course: 20 started and 11 finished. Yuck. 55% completion rate.

BECA response: We are doing away with the Course One weekend courses -- at least for now. In 2010, all BECA Course Ones will be 120 hours over three months.

Standardized and simpler to administer.

It is still way too early to get excited about the good results we experienced. I think we might be on the right track, though.

BECA has a Baby!

Well, sort of . . .

Congratulations to Arlen Obando!

Arlen just had a baby. She has been taking "Course One BECA" every Saturday for the last six months and finishes up this weekend.

Arlen hasn't chosen a name for the little guy yet. "Waltercito" sure has a nice ring to it, though. :)

Brian's Final Thoughts

As Walter mentioned in the previous newsletter, I will be returning to University to study for my Master’s in Business Administration. I cannot adequately express in words how excited I am for this opportunity. After all, my primary responsibility will be…to learn!

As excited as I am, this opportunity to learn has new meaning for me because in many parts of this world it does not exist. There is not always a school or an opportunity for a degree that offers a chance to get ahead. There is not a government or a bank that loans people money to “study.” The truth is that while I am in school, most people in this world will labor to support themselves and their families. This fact alone builds an appreciation unlike anything I have felt before.

I imagine the appreciation that our BECA students feel for their opportunity to learn goes far beyond anything that I am feeling right now. In Nicaragua, to graduate from high school and then receive a scholarship is an extraordinary accomplishment. It is revered in the community. It is a source of pride that forever remains.

Knowing this, I thank those of you who have supported and continue to support BECA. While your support may appear in the form of money, it surfaces in the form of hope, opportunity, and possibility for someone on the receiving end.

For my final request as Executive Director and my first request as Board Member, I ask you never to underestimate the impact of your actions or your ability to make a difference. Because of you, a student who has grown up in one of the poorest corners of this world has been given an opportunity. You have made that difference.

It has been the highlight of my short professional career to work for BECA and Walter Hunchak, a founder with unmatchable integrity, character, and genuine purpose. Most importantly, it has been fulfilling to give students in Nicaragua the opportunity to study for a career.

Best Wishes,

Brian

The BECA Bank Account Saga

If you heard a big scream on the morning of Wednesday, July 1st, it was me. Nope, I wasn't celebrating Canada's 142nd birthday.

After visits to four Nicaraguan banks -- and mucho pleading and cajoling and waiting outside bankers' offices -- BECA finally got its very own authentic Nicaraguan bank account.

Cost to BECA: a year, five BECA t-shirts and $360 (lawyer).

Aside: The t-shirts worked the best. I wish I had thought of that a long time ago.

Ho Hum

Another boring week here in Masaya, Nicaragua.

Let's review some headlines:

1. A big fire guts half a city block.

2. Mayor of Nicaraguan capital city kills himself.

3. Military coup (according to some) staged in neighboring country (Honduras).

Meanwhile, back in Canada, a horse died.