EDUCATION

Only a generation ago, dropping out of primary school after only a year or two was the norm, particularly for young girls. School facilities lacked supplies and qualified teachers. The vast majority of Santa Cruceños could only dream of finishing middle school, let alone high school. Now, Santa Cruz has four middle schools. Many young cruceños and cruceñas are finishing middle school and more are going on to high school, some even to university. While educational attainment is on the rise, classes are frequently cancelled, teachers are often underqualified, and school resources are stretched thin. Improving the quality of local schools is a constant challenge and key to creating positive change for Santa Cruz youth.

Education And Youth Programs

FORMAL EDUCATION

EARLY EDUCATION READING PROGRAM

HIGHER EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

YOUTH LEADERSHIP

SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH (SRH) PROGRAM

SANTA CRUZ YOUTH CORPS

Rosal A Sim N P Rez

Letter from the Director of Education Programs & Administration

2022 was a year of learning and growth in our education programs. Our team saw children, youth and parents alike addressing social-emotional issues to help them achieve greater academic success. I am proud of our team. We have pivoted to these needs and responded with resources and support. We recognize that our community needs a holistic approach to education in order to help them succeed.

The year also brought surprises that no one could have imagined 25 years ago, with the purchase of a dedicated space for our Reading Program. Parents requested a large, safe space that would provide the ideal infrastructure for teaching the youngest children in the community, and we were able to respond.

2023 will provide an opportunity for us to inject new ideas, reassess our goals and develop our vision for the next 20 years. As we start this new year, our goal of ensuring quality educational opportunity for the children of Santa Cruz has never been so clear, which makes every step we take absolutely worth it.