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This project provides monies to students in Puerto Vallarta at the middle,high, and university levels. These are students that have good grades and are highly motivated to stay in school but cannot unless they receive a scholarship. Without this funding, the child would be forced to work, to provide supplemental income to the family. Although the government of Mexico pays for a students education, there are many hidden costs that must be borne by the student; these include the costs of specific clothes, books, and other expenses than are not covered by the government. The amount of the scholarship pays for these expenses.
The scholarship program in Puerto Vallarta has been in existence for over 5 years and is effectively administered by the local RC (PV Sur RC). Recently, support for this program has come from Canadian clubs, but this amount has declined (the person that was instrumental in raising funds recently left Rotary.) This grant would provide a major supplement to this worthwhile program. In the previous Rotary year, AER provided $4,500 for this program, which was matched by $4,500 by the District. This is a continuation of this one year program. All of the monies will be spent within one year.
There will be substantial Rotary Club involvement, both from the Puerto Vallarta Sur RC and AER. The Puerto Vallarta Sur club administers the program and selects the individual students that would warrant a scholarship. Members from AER participate in the distribution of the awards, and 4-5 members of AER should be present at this event. One member of AER actually makes (some of) the award presentations and functions as translator in this awards program, which usually lasts several hours. There are many Canadian and American Rotary members present at the award event and do not speak Spanish. Each Rotarian will be assigned a student scholarship person, which often results in a long term involvement. Local press are often present at these award ceremonies and the event is significant in this community.
Addendum to Project Description (added after the project was signed)
This project (4/18/16) has been completed. Forty-eight scholarships were distributed to students meeting the criteria set by the Puerto Vallarta SUR RC at two distributions, occurring in November 2015 and January, 2016. Some of the scholarships were underwritten by the grant, some by funds from Anchorage East Rotary, some by Anchorage East Rotarians individually, and some by members of other Rotary Clubs in the US and Canada, and some by timeshare owners in Puerto Vallarta. Rotarians from both the local Rotary Club and from a number of clubs from both Canada and the US participated in the scholarship distribution ceremonies.(A significant number of other Rotary Clubs participate in Puerto Vallarta Sur Rotary Club's scholarship program with a total of over 500 scholarships provided.) Members from Anchorage East Rotary attended the distribution ceremonies and one member addressed the recipients in Spanish and delivered presentations cards with the Anchorage East Rotary Club logo on one side and the Spanish words "creemos en ti" (we believe in you) on the other side. Photos and the recipient list will be uploaded.
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