A GIRL EMPOWERED
Dear Loyal Friends,
Can you imagine your life without education? Working long hours at a low-skilled, low-wage job just to survive-that is, if you can even find one. Living a life of stifled dreams and feeling powerless to change your circumstances.

Growing up in Honduras, it isn't too hard to imagine. This is the bleak reality awaiting the over 50% of Honduran youth who never finish high school. And to think that for $50 a month, you can ensure that one promising young high school student not only makes it to their high school graduation, but is equipped to make a successful transition to college - a transition too few young people in Honduras have the opportunity to make. Only 14% of Honduran high school graduates enter college, in comparison to 90% of OYE's youth scholars.

Ivelis' Story

Ivelis recording in the radio booth.
Ivelis
 is one of the few, but it has been a bumpy road. Money was always tight in Ivelis' family, but the situation only got worse when her parents separated. She was in 9th grade at the time and all of a sudden her education was no longer a priority. Despite economic difficulties and family instability, Ivelis persisted and supported by an OYE scholarship, she graduated from high school at the top of her class in 2012. But beyond encouraging academic success, OYE became a second home and the place where she has found her voice.

  "OYE has helped me grow. I have become more responsible and learned how to face  
 life's challenges... I´ve found a place where I belong."
Ivelis in her CREA gear before a visit from the Central America and Mexico Youth Fund.

Now 21, Ivelis is attending college and holds a leadership role in CREA, an OYE initiative that has provided comprehensive sex education, with a focus on gender and rights, to over 750 teens in less than two years. But beyond energizing workshops and providing critical information on sexual and reproductive health, Ivelis has become a trusted confidant for many teen girls, listening to their troubles and answering tough questions they do not feel comfortable asking other adults in their lives. Today she is a leader and we could not be more proud of the empowered, dynamic, and resilient young woman she has become.
Ivelis in action, facilitating a sexual and reproductive health workshop for young teens at one of our partner schools.

While various international foundations provide crucial funding to cover much of our direct program costs, it is your contributions that prepare our young leaders with the confidence and skills to lead these invaluable programs that reach thousands of disadvantaged teens each year.

Today I write to ask for your continuing support of our work to empower promising youth like Ivelis. Without valuable contributions like yours, at-risk youth will continue to go without an education, their only means to build a better and brighter future in Honduras.


   Education matters-everywhere.

It changes people's lives and the world we live in. But for youth in Honduras, education can be a lifeline. It makes the difference between living in poverty and rising above it. It lessens their vulnerability to the all too prevalent drugs, gangs, and violence. For girls, it reduces their risk of teen pregnancy and early marriage. It inspires hope fo­­­­r a better future and creates the opportunity to build that future. It empowers them to question the status quo and to act to change it.


   Your support matters-always.

Every gift, whether it's $10 or $1000, makes a difference. Because of the generosity of our incredible family of donors, we accomplished our goal of extending over 100 scholarships this year, marking a 33% increase from last year's 75 scholarships.

Will you make a donation today?

TO MAKE A DONATION, YOU CAN:
  • Send a check  made payable to "Organization for Youth Empowerment" to  3351 18th St. NW, Washington, D.C., 20010.
But beyond asking you for your financial support (see insert on how you can do it!), we encourage you to share OYE's work with your friends and family and help us grow our support network.  We need more people like you!

On behalf of all of us at OYE, and most especially our youth, thank you for your support and belief in our work. We do not take you for granted.


Sincerely,


Rocío Mendoza
Executive Director

            
P.S.  Last year, OYE was honored with an award from the White House. This year, we celebrated our 11th anniversary. Visit www.oyehonduras.org  to learn more about OYE and make a donation to help us provide life-changing opportunities to promising youth. 

P.P.S. To all of you who have already made your donation this summer, thanks a million!

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