November 16, 2024 | Scholarship Program

Scholars at work in their communities

Goals, giving and growth fuel participation in scholarship program

By Tammy Marino

Most people have some childhood aspirations they may never reach, maybe through lack of drive or follow-through, or because our dreams change over time. While it can be especially difficult to give up on a goal simply due to lack of finances, passion and drive can only go so far without the necessary funding to enroll in schooling and training to cross the finish line.

For so many living in poverty across the globe, ambitions often take a backseat to immediate, pressing needs like food, shelter and medical care.

Expanding access to education in the developing world is key to reducing global poverty. Donations to the Unbound Scholarship Program give students the support to continue pursuing education, a critical element for a path out of poverty for themselves and their families.

Unbound scholars are given the opportunity to pursue careers that can be life-changing, while developing important leadership skills and giving back to their communities.

Meet a few of our amazing Unbound scholars.

Inspired by his mother’s illness to pursue a medical career


Juan Carlos is a sponsored youth and Unbound scholarship recipient living in El Salvador. He is in the last stage of completing his medical studies and working as an internist at a hospital. At home, Juan Carlos cares for his mother who has epilepsy, and his grandfather who has COPD. In fact, his mother’s condition was one of the main reasons he wanted to become a doctor.

“… [my mother] was already on the verge of dying with many risks and seeing how, at that moment, I was so small and how other people [the doctors] helped her, they pulled her through,” Juan Carlos explained. “For me it was a reason for admiration, a reason for respect and at the same time motivation, for me to aspire to that at some point.”

His goal is to one day help his mother, but to also offer his medical services to the local Unbound office. As part of his scholarship service, he provides medical advice to elders in the program.

Juan Carlos hopes the Unbound Scholarship Program continues to thrive to support others as he has been supported because “… for that child with few resources, with his limitations, your small help can completely transform the person's life. He can build a dream that ends up being achieved.”

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Juan Carlos is pursuing a career in medicine in El Salvador.

… For that child with few resources, with his limitations, your small help can completely transform the person's life. He can build a dream that ends up being achieved.

— Juan Carlos, Unbound Scholar, El Salvador

From shy child to community leader


Andrea is a 21-year-old Unbound scholar in Colombia. Her father passed away at a young age leaving Andrea’s mother to raise her three daughters on her own. As a child, Andrea was shy and felt she had few valuable skills, but she always knew she had a gift to listen to others and understand them in a meaningful way.

Andrea has almost completed her degree in public accounting, and she is deeply invested in her Unbound work (giving five to seven hours of community service per day). Unbound staff recognized Andrea’s empathy and trained her to provide health-related talks to community teenagers. She also helps families record their video messages to sponsors and assists elders in her community.

“For me it [community service] is something that makes me proud,” Andrea shared. And she also provided this valuable advice for others: “Do not give up; he who perseveres achieves. I know that the situation is a little complicated, but thanks [be to] God things can be achieved, and thanks to an angel who passes you along the way, which is Unbound for me, I was able to get ahead.”

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Andrea, Unbound scholar in Cartegena, Colombia.

Do not give up; he who perseveres achieves.

— Andrea, Unbound Scholar, Colombia

His desire to see the world sparked a career path


Aljohn’s mother passed away, leaving him and three of his seven siblings to live with his grandmother in the Philippines while his father is away for work. Aljohn is a skilled mechanic who runs his late grandfather’s vulcanizing shop, working on cars and motorcycles. And thanks to the Unbound Scholarship Program, Aljohn is studying marine engineering and has enjoyed on-the-job training working on a ship handling maintenance and emergencies.

It was the opportunity to travel the world while supporting himself and his family that drew Aljohn to his chosen profession. He is scheduled to graduate in 2025.

Aljohn believes the scholarship program empowered him to be goal oriented, to get things done, and to have the courage to speak to and lead other youth, which he is proud to do as the president of the youth organization in his community.

“This scholarship program really means a lot for me,” Aljohn explained. “I might not be able to graduate or even continue my studies in college without Unbound.”

Aljohn also credits Unbound and the scholarship program with exposing him to a variety of activities that allowed him to develop responsibility, leadership skills and confidence.

“[The scholarship] does not only help us financially, but it also helps us to build our character and to be the best version of ourselves,” Aljohn said. “Unbound, you have been my second home who teaches me a lot of things to be better as a person. You are my backbone who supported me all the way until I finish my college degree. Thank you so much for always being there for me.”

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Aljohn will graduate from his marine engineering program in the Philippines in 2025.

You are my backbone who supported me all the way until I finish my college degree. Thank you so much for always being there for me.

— Aljohn, Unbound Scholar, The Philippines

More about the Unbound Scholarship Program


Juan Carlos, Andrea and Aljohn have been given the gift of advanced education thanks to the Unbound Scholarship Program, which relies on support from our greater Unbound community. Give other young adults the opportunity to realize their dreams — learn more about the scholarship program and make a donation today.

Unbound regional reporters Josue Sermeno, Henry Flores and Teejay Cabrera contributed information and photos for this story.