Gleydi is twelve years old and lives with her family in the community Jucuapa, located ten miles south of the city of Matagalpa. Jucuapa is a beautiful, rural community set in the mountains, though there is also much hardship, as social services are very limited and there are few economic opportunities available.

Gleydi’s father is a farmer and grows a small crop of beans and corn, mostly for the family’s consumption. They sell a small part of their harvest, which helps them to cover some of their basic needs, though it has been difficult to keep Gleydi and her sister in school.

This year, Gleydi started her first year of high school! She has to walk nearly an hour each way to get to her school in the neighboring community, Limixto, but she is determined to become the first high school graduate in her family. Gleydi is very active in her church and has faith that she will be able to achieve her goals.

When you support our Youth in Action Program, you are supporting the dreams of students like Gleydi! $25 a month is all it takes for 1 student to receive their High School education. Your commitment to eduction will change Gleydi’s life but also the 749 other students in our Scholarship Program!

Griscelda López is a young woman who lives with her husband and their three children in the rural community, El Carrizo. Because of economic difficulties, Griscelda wasn’t able to continue her education after the sixth grade and had been out of school for more than ten years. When she heard about our scholarship program, she decided it was time to fulfill her dream of pursuing a high school degree. She began her first year of high school in 2022 and is one of the best students in her class.

Once in the scholarhip program, Griscelda learned about other Rayo de Sol initiatives and quickly became involved in the Community Development Program. She designated a section of her yard to create a biointensive garden and began to plant lettuce, carrots, beets, radishes, onions, squash, peppers and tomatoes. Initially, she thought this would provide a source of healthy food for her family, but she soon discovered that they had enough vegetables to sell to their neighbors.

Griscelda began selling produce in her community and also began to grow ornamental plants to sell. We provided her with a small loan and a drip irrigation system and she now has a thriving business. Griscelda will continue studying for the next four years, to earn her high school degree, while she also manages her family business. Her dream is to study for a degree In agronomy after finishing high school.

Grascelda’s story is a perfect example of how Rayo’s comprehensive programs can impact one family and change lives. We are so proud to partner with the individuals and communities we serve — removing barriers, creating opportunities for their success!

Maudiel is an eight year old boy who lives in the community Jucuapa, a very remote community in the mountains. When our doctor first started holding clinics in the community and doing nutritional monitoring, she was surprised to discover that Maudiel was severely malnourished. She spoke with Maudiel’s mother and teacher and learned that he had been ill for several months and was not able to keep up with his school work.

With some lab work, the doctor quickly discovered that Maudiel had a serious bacterial illness in his stomach and digestive system. This was affecting his appetite and ability to process the little food that he was eating. It also affected his energy level and learning capacity. Maudiel started treatment immediately and began to show signs of improvement. It has taken several months for Maudiel to recover body mass, but he has been growing and developing steadily.

Maudiel has had nutritious school lunches at school every day and the family also receives some additional, fortified foods to prepare at home. His teacher has remarked that he has more energy and enthusiasm in the classroom and has been learning and retaining more. We will continue to monitor his health, his weight and height to ensure that Maudiel continues to improve.