Mission Santa Maria Inc

Post High-School Opportunities: After high school, there are three programs that Mission Santa Maria has to help our children find work, education, and a better life: the University Program, the DP World Shipping program and the Girls Transition Program. University Program All of the students in this program come from Esperanza Home for Children or from families in our scholarship program at Santa Maria del Fiat school, and would otherwise have no hope of receiving post-high school education. Our University Program pays for housing, food, healthcare, and university required supplies for each student during their years in university. A university diploma can lead to a well-paying job in Ecuador, helping these young men and women to be the first in their families to escape poverty. In 2023, Mission Santa Maria supported 23 students to be able to attend university and 5 students graduated. To date, the university program has 9 graduates. Post High-School Opportunities: DP World Program In 2022, MSM launched a work-study program in partnership with DP World, a multinational logistics and shipping company. Students study at Escuela Superior Politcnica del Litoral (ESPOL) while working an internship at the port. ESPOL helps them learn the necessary technical and engineering skills for a career with DP World, while the internship provides them with an opportunity to work, and learn practical skills that will be useful throughout their career. Opportunities like this are scarce in Ecuador, and this program helps set students up for a thriving future. In 2023, 5 students benefited from this program. Post High-School Opportunities: Girls Transition Program For many years, MSM has souught to support the vulnerable group of young adults that age out of Esperanza Home for Children at 18 years old, but do not meet the academic qualifications to attend university or enter our work-study program. In 2023, MSM launched a transition program with four young women. The program provides safe housing while the women become financially independent. Having no family, and no access to social services after 18 years old, these women would have nowhere to go without this program.