“With support, these kids fly”: The formula helping poor youth become professionals

Joaquina Alderete remembers questioning her own capability when she first encountered a requirement for a scholarship: demonstrating "high potential." Studying administration at university during the pandemic was a significant challenge for Joaquina, who aspired to be the first college graduate in her family. Her parents and uncles worked as construction laborers and domestic workers, respectively, making her academic pursuit a considerable leap.

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No one in my circle understood my concerns when I started the CBC to pursue a degree in Administration.

She felt isolated, as no one in her immediate circle understood her academic concerns. Family gatherings often involved questions about her studies or comments about her being the family's "hope." While she didn't want to disappoint anyone, studying became an immense burden, diminishing her enjoyment. She even felt that her peers who worked instead of studying were better off.

Her path changed when a friend introduced her to Fundación BisBlick. This organization supports low-income youths with high potential, aiming to help them become the first professionals in their families through scholarships, tutoring, and training. After a rigorous selection process, Joaquina was accepted. "When I connected with them, I felt like I was in the right place. Not only because they could help me, but because I started connecting with other young people who were in the same situation as me," she recalled.

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With support, these kids fly.

Belén Ochoa, the executive director of BisBlick, emphasizes the foundation's focus on competence rather than vulnerability. "We continue to believe that education is the engine for social mobility. And our focus is on young people who are determined to study despite all the barriers they face," she stated. Data from the UCA's Social Debt Observatory reveals that nearly half of disadvantaged youths aged 18-24 do not finish high school, and only about a quarter pursue higher education, with just 1% completing a degree before age 25. "When these young people have the support they need, they fly," Ochoa affirmed, referring to the approximately 3,000 individuals who have engaged with the foundation since its inception in 2013. The admission process involves socioeconomic evaluations, interviews, and group dynamics to identify high potential.

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We don't look at the vulnerability of these kids, but their competencies. We continue to believe that education is the engine for social mobility. And our focus is on the kids who are determined to study despite all the barriers they face.