Optimistc Odalis Succeeds Despite Covid Obstacles

Odalis lives with her grandmother, Doña Aurora, in a two-room brick house near our Luis Amigo sponsor site in Guatemala. Now 22 years old, she loves to read and play soccer with her friends.

Since her granddaughter was small, Aurora always dreamt that Odalis would complete her studies and have a future full of opportunities. But Aurora had difficulty affording the costs of her education, food, and other daily needs. Thankfully, a Chalice sponsor chose Odalis in 2010. Through their support, Odalis could thrive in her studies, and look ahead to university.

But the cost of pursuing higher education has rendered it inaccessible to most Guatemalan youth, especially those coming from low-income families. Their lack of higher education makes it hard for them to find employment, and the cycle of poverty continues.

The Sisters who run the Luis Amigo site couldn't bear to see gifted students like Odalis being kept from higher learning because of the costs. So, in 2017, through the help of Chalice supporters, they created a program that would change the lives of bright students. Through a rigorous process, the site staff selected a small group of high-performing students to receive extra assistance to continue their education. This includes tutoring, mentoring, and financial aid.

Odalis was thrilled to learn that the staff had selected her. The local university accepted her into their Business Administration program and her dreams were coming true. Her studies were going smoothly until the global pandemic shut down all schools and plunged Champerico into further economic crisis. The Luis Amigo staff were determined that this setback would not disrupt Odalis' progress. They came to her home and brought her a full supply of materials she would need to learn from home and ensured her access to a computer lab so she could connect with virtual lectures and workshops.

Despite the obstacles, Odalis completed her sixth semester courses, covering mathematics, management theory, and economics. As a way of giving back to the Luis Amigo site, Odalis presented a workshop for sponsored youth, encouraging them to say no to drugs and persevere in their education.

Odalis is filled with "gratitude and joy" for the Chalice donors who supported the Sisters' initiative. They have helped her step towards "her great dream of being a prepared woman, an important pillar in her family and in her community," the staff write. She extends her "sincere thanks and abundant blessings".