Scholarship sparks career in electrical trade

While so many people living in extreme poverty have been led to believe there is no way out, it has become clear over Unbound’s more than four decades working with families that one viable way out is through education.

Since it was founded in 1981, Unbound has worked to create a program to eliminate poverty that leans into the inherent dignity of every person. Our approach challenges poverty by empowering the families in our programs to make decisions that improve their situations — something that is key to creating sustainable solutions.

According to the World Bank, 27.5% of the people in El Salvador are living on less than $6.85 a day. Education, including job training, opens doors that poverty closes, offering individuals the tools to build new futures for themselves and their families. One example of the kind of change possible through a combination of empowerment and education is provided by Jonathan.

Humble beginnings

Raised in a family with an older brother and younger sister in a rural area of Santa Ana, El Salvador, 35-year-old Jonathan recalls a happy childhood, despite financial constraints. Unbound was part of Jonathan's life from childhood, when he and his sister were sponsored, providing their family with access to food, school supplies, clothing, medical assistance and birthday parties. Thanks to his parents and the financial cushion the sponsorships provided their family, Jonathan feels he and his siblings were able to be children — to play, attend school and dream.

As a young and shy boy, Jonathan loved animals and had dreams of becoming a veterinarian. But as he grew, he began to develop an interest in electricity, inspired by his father's work. When Jonathan was 11 years old, his father began working as an electrician. Jonathan would sometimes accompany his father on jobs, and he was intrigued enough to know that he wanted to pursue a similar career.

At the age of 15, Jonathan’s studies in high school were focused on electronics. When it was time for Jonathan to attend National University, he learned from the Unbound office about the scholarship program. He applied and two months later received word that he would receive Unbound scholarship support, which helped him to cover tuition, transportation and food while he studied. After two years at the university, he learned he would need to do half of his studies in nearby Santa Ana and the other half in El Salvador’s capital, San Salvador. This was no longer going to be an affordable option, so his Unbound social worker helped guide him toward entering the ITCA-FEPADE School of Engineering and continuing to utilize scholarship funds to study as a technician in electrical engineering.

Passion and drive

Jonathan never thought of giving up. Instead, he explained, “Every day was about learning something new, and it was like a step up, a ladder up, up, up.”

Jonathan’s commute to and from his studies was a 45-minute bus ride, and he attended classes from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. each day. While attending the technician training school with scholarship support, Jonathan was also still in the sponsorship program. While the funds from the scholarship were used toward tuition, bus fare and food, Jonathan’s sponsorship funds were used for the benefit of his entire family.

As a scholarship recipient, Jonathan, in addition to pursuing his studies, needed to fulfill a community service component. He assisted in the correspondence department of the local Unbound office, reviewing children’s letters to sponsors to ensure they were understandable and correct. Working in the office gave Jonathan interpersonal skills that served him well in school and in his career.

“When I was growing up, when dealing with people, I was very shy,” Jonathan said. “Being part of [Unbound] helped me to have a conversation even with people that I didn't know.”

His field requires customer service, and Jonathan credits his work with Unbound in showing him how to be kind and attentive to his customers’ needs.

In 2010, after two years at ITCA-FEPADE, Jonathan completed his technician studies. Today, he works in various areas of the electrical trade, including residential and industrial installations, and primarily photovoltaic (PV) systems. Photovoltaics, a growing industry in El Salvador, is the conversion of light into electricity using semiconducting materials. Jonathan is one of only six technicians in El Salvador certified in this specialty by Huawei, a global company with a PV presence in El Salvador.

“I'm most passionate about working with photovoltaic systems because it is technology and electricity combined,” Jonathan said. “When a passion arises in you, I believe that you do the impossible to reach the goal you set for yourself.”

Even now, Jonathan continues to embrace the concept of continued growth. He has five certifications in the PV field, and each year he receives additional training to stay up to date on ever-changing technology.

Gratitude for his miracle

Jonathan's transformative Unbound experience not only allowed him to advance academically but also to acquire confidence, social skills and a deep sense of gratitude. It allowed him access to technical education when financial means were limited. It gave him the tools and emotional support to pursue his passion for electricity.

Thanks to Unbound support made possible by his sponsor and donors to the scholarship program, Jonathan achieved job stability and professional growth. He also acquired interpersonal and community skills that he now applies in his work. Jonathan considers the Unbound community "his miracle.”

Now a friendly, polite and adventurous man who enjoys time with family and friends, Jonathan hopes to continue to grow in his field, while supporting his wife and 6-year-old daughter. He dreams of one day having his own home — and more than that, he hopes his daughter will be able to pursue her dreams.

Jonathan offers this advice for anyone who is struggling:

“Don’t give up, it can be done. We would just have to look for something that we are passionate about. I was passionate about the electrical area and here I am. Thank God, I work on this full time. When you work with something you're passionate about, it's not tiring, but it's what motivates you to keep going day by day.”

Unbound regional reporter Josué Sermeño contributed information and photos for this story.