Sponsor a Student
Ready to Change a Student’s Life?
You will be redirected to the website of our partner organization, Cooperative for Education, to select and pay for your Rise student.
We’ve enjoyed having a relationship with our Rise students very much. The connection with the students has kept us coming back to Guatemala. Honestly, I struggled a bit with deciding about the most effective use of our resources in Guatemala, but decided to participate in student sponsorship as part of our support because of the intangible value of the relationship, of the encouragement the kids get from people they didn’t previously know. I’m also genuinely inspired by what these kids accomplish.
How Sponsorship Works
1 Sponsor a scholar today.
Talk to your club or sponsor a scholar on your own. You can provide a full sponsorship for $960 or a half sponsorship for $480.
We’ll keep you regularly updated on your student’s progress, and you will also have the opportunity to exchange letters and photos with your student and even visit them in Guatemala!
Not ready to commit? Click here to email the Rise team and they will follow-up with you!
2 Help your student rise.
Thanks to you, your student’s life will begin to change as they benefit from comprehensive support services in the Rise Youth Development Program:
- a full academic scholarship
- psychologists, social workers, and mentors
- workshops on topics like job skills and social justice
- visits to businesses and universities
- opportunities to serve in their community as a young leader
3 Break the cycle of poverty.
When a Rise scholar graduates from the program, the cycle of poverty that has persisted in their family for decades officially comes to an end.
In fact, after graduation, 90% of students begin working or continue their education, and over 50% begin paying for their younger siblings to go to school.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my club sponsor a student?
Yes! You can sponsor individually or with your club or another group.
How do I/we make contributions to the sponsorship?
The best way to contribute depends on what country you or your club are in. Fill out the pledge form above, and we will follow up with instructions!
Is sponsorship part of the Global Grant?
No. The Rise Youth Development Program is funded in part by the Global Grant, but student sponsorships are outside of the grant and matching process.
Why is this sponsorship more expensive than other student sponsorship programs?
The Rise Program not only provides students with an academic scholarship—it completely transforms their lives and ends the cycle of poverty in their families.
Students are selected based on high potential and high need. It is very common for them to face challenges such as:
- dire poverty that sometimes forces them to go without food
- pressure to marry or have children early
- alcoholism or abuse in their homes
- gang culture
- lack of familial support
- belief that education is not worth investing in
Because of this, it is essential that the Rise Program offer robust, comprehensive services to help these scholars rise above the obstacles they face:
- academic scholarship
- psychologists, counselors, and mentors
- workshops on life and professional skills
- visits to businesses and universities (many students aren’t exposed to anything but subsistence farming)
- community service and leadership opportunities
When a Rise scholar graduates from the program, the cycle of poverty that has persisted in their family for decades officially comes to an end. The program works.
What is the Rise Program?
The Rise Youth Development Program offers scholarships and comprehensive support to students who have great potential but face overwhelming obstacles. When a Rise scholar graduates from the program, the cycle of poverty that has persisted in their family for decades officially comes to an end.
Student sponsorship is facilitated by our partner organization, Cooperative for Education (CoEd).
For further questions, please email rise@coeduc.org.