This is presently the main area of our activity. 

Providing a scholarship is simple once you have the money. It is a promise to send a monthly amount to the student or her or his family (granted, doing this as a charity in countries far away is not that easy and we have to fulfill a number of requirements. But that’s another story).

What is not that easy is what comes with it: the personal contact to the student or the parents. Inevitable you get involved in their struggles and challenges, especially in a family as we are. And often, we get involved even without providing a scholarship. That is when we consider them our mentees.

When they share good news, we celebrate with them. But we also take part in the hard times. And often our “outside” view or the benefit of the foundation structure can work wonders. We talk to authorities, issue references, provide guarantees, research databases and provide information they can apply. We guide and refer to experts. We write messages “how are you” when we don’t hear for a while. We analyze the individual situation with the person and try to support her or him according to their need.

At the same time, our mentees are equally important for our work. These young people advise us on the design of the foundation and our strategy. Through them, we have access to the network of former “children of Padre Wasson” in different countries, learn about their real needs, hardships, friends and peculiarities, and can adapt our planning. And for the mentees, it brings an opportunity to involve their “peers” and to give something of their privileged role. We have had tremendous positive feedback and encouragement from that group. 

And there is a long-term aspect to make this a sustainable program: All our students are committed to support the foundation also financially once they earn a salary. We don’t have them sign a contract, we have faith. They want to provide the same opportunities to the next generation. If we do our part well, they will too. We are still small, but with a huge potential to grow over the next years and decades.