Atlanta Young Adults Support
LifeNets Scholarship Fund in Central America

April 30, 2002

With the support of the Atlanta Young Adults we are well on the way to helping young adults get an education that they otherwise would not be able to afford and also have the ability to help younger students with school supplies. This is a great story about working together to bring about practical help to our friends.

We are helping provide a post high school education for 21 students in El Salvador.  We are also committing ourselves to provide similar programs in Guatemala and Peru. 

Mr. Herbert Cisneros from San Salvador has just written to me about the scholarship program LifeNets is helping sponsor.  Providing a higher education for 21 students in El Salvador costs about $8000 a year in tuition. -  TOTAL!!  (Where I live you cannot get a college education for ONE person for a year).  To those who can be educated, they have for hope for a much better life to the alternative of  facing a 75% unemployment rate. Current students are studying dentistry, architecture, accounting, marketing, law, business administration, computer science, education, and more.  What better value could we get for our charitable dollars?  LifeNets has paid $4000 for the first half of the school year and is now paying a similar amount for the second half.  The school year in El Salvador starts in January.

The Atlanta Young Adults started their annual fundraiser with a goal of $1500 for the year.  This began with a November 3, 2001 kickoff fundraiser for LifeNets along with Atlanta United Church of God members who stayed into the evening for a potluck social and cake auction. This activity helped bring the adults closer together to help raise this sum over the next year.  Other groups around the country plus general donations to LifeNets are going to cover the total cost of the program.  In addition to scholarships, school supplies are going to be purchased for elementary students in Guatemala as they have recently been in El Salvador.

A display stand was presented that will be used from week to week to collect donations.

Below are some photos of the November 3rd fundraiser. After the meal we had an introduction by Jennifer Moen to explain what the Atlanta young adults are doing for LifeNets.

Young Kieth Mez served as auctioneer, rallying the congregation to donate a net of $450. This provided a big initial boost for the year-long project. Kieth's humor made the auction event a highlight. Most of the fine cakes and pies were hand made by the young adults. Some adults as well, provided baked goods as sponsors. The evening wrapped up with a fun game of Bunko for the late-nighters. The Atlanta Young Adults have also made a subsequent contribution of $187.00 for this program in late March 2002.

100% contributions will go directly to the programs described. See some of the thank you cards that have come for this and other programs here.