Ayacucho Father Transfers Scholarship to Son, Enabling Engineering Studies in Lima

In a remarkable act of paternal sacrifice, an Ayacucho father, himself a victim of terrorist violence, has relinquished his Beca 18 scholarship to his son, Isaí De la Cruz Fernández. This selfless gesture has enabled Isaí, 17, to secure a coveted spot to study Mechatronic Engineering at the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (PUCP) in Lima, achieving first place in the Repared modality of the Pronabec scholarship program.

Isaí, originally from Huamanga, excelled in the selection process for Beca 18-2026, a program specifically designed for victims of the violence that plagued Peru between 1980 and 2000. After gaining admission to the university, he successfully navigated Pronabec's rigorous evaluation to receive full funding for his higher education in the capital.

"My dad studied at the Universidad San Cristóbal de Huamanga and always told me: 'You have to study in Lima, you have to surpass me,'" Isaí shared with Andina news agency, expressing his excitement for this new academic chapter. His father had been eligible for the scholarship through the Special Registry of Beneficiaries of Educational Reparations (REBRED), established for terrorism victims. However, seeing his son's strong desire to study in Lima, he chose to transfer the benefit.

"He saw my desire to study here, gave up his benefit, and transferred it to me so I could take advantage of the scholarship for undergraduate studies," Isaí recounted, publicly thanking his father for his immense sacrifice. "Thank you, Dad. Without you, I wouldn't have been able to be here," he added emotionally. Isaí is now preparing to move to Lima, where he plans to live with other scholarship recipients near the university. His ambition is to maintain top academic standing and pursue international study opportunities, aiming to become a professional who contributes to Peru's development.