Scholarships: The 1st Step Towards a Brighter Future

The value of education is undeniable. Academic excellence, along with discipline and values, provides a strong foundation for the development of a well-rounded student. But for many families living in the Riviera Maya, education is difficult to afford. The KKIS Project manages scholarship endowments that provide families with the help they need to pay for education.

Education in the Riviera Maya

While 12 years of education in Mexico is compulsory, the average number of years of education is only nine. Students who want to go on to high school need to pay for an entrance exam, school fees, transportation, and uniform costs. We believe in public education. It is not a perfect system in any country, but we believe that all children should have access to 12 years of education.

Scholarships: How students are selected

KKIS provides scholarships to public high schools and universities. Applications for high school scholarships are given out to communities recommended to us by the Secretary of Education. With the help of school administrators, we choose recipients based on previous grade point averages and financial needs. Click here to learn more about how scholarship students are chosen.

The importance of giving education

The significance of these scholarships does not merely hold weight in dollars, however.

Scholarships not only cover the costs of pursuing higher education but change the lives of students as well. Scholarships Impact can go from reducing the financial burden of the rising costs of a college education to allowing students to find more time and energy to focus on studies rather than part-time work, scholarships are one piece in the puzzle of what creates a strong foundation for supporting students in their success in life.

Scholarships demonstrate a community’s belief in a student’s efforts and potential, and they contribute as much to an individual’s confidence and self-worth as they do to their college fund. Read more about this here. 

Taking a step further

All high school scholarship students are assigned a KKIS Advisor – a volunteer who meets bi-weekly with a small group of students, taking them through a grade-specific curriculum designed to help them better understand themselves and a path to achieve their goals.

The opportunity for a university scholarship is offered to graduating KKIS High School Scholars. KKIS University Scholars participate in the Wings program designed to ensure they obtain a job in their field of study upon graduation.

Click here to learn more about the Advisor program.

Looking towards the future

KKIS scholarships literally keep students in school – students, who despite their good grades, were at risk of not going to high school simply for economic reasons. With the exams, entrance fees, transportation, uniforms, and school supplies paid for, the students are able to focus on their studies and achieve their goals.

Programs that accompany the scholarship provide connections outside of the students’ community – a window into another way of life. Connecting students with individuals outside of their circle prepares them to enter a world yet unknown, made possible only with education.

If you would like to help keep more kids in school, click here!