Courtesy
The Fundación Gloria Kriete (FGK) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) celebrated the graduation and awarding of scholarships to 52 students of the Oportunidades Program, from the Sonsonate branch.
This 2025, the Fundación Gloria Kriete celebrates two decades of commitment to salvadoran communities, consolidating its position as a pillar in the educational, social and economic transformation of the country. This reflects a legacy of sustainable impact, promoting opportunities for thousands of young people who are now agents of change in their communities.
The Oportunidades Program, a flagship initiative of the Foundation, is developed in three phases designed to transform the lives of participants. In the first phase, while in high school, students receive complementary education in English and STEAM skills at the various Oportunidades Centers, fostering critical thinking, creative problem solving and essential skills for the 21st century. The second phase provides access to scholarships that allow them to pursue higher education at one of the 16 partner universities, reaffirming the Foundation’s commitment to education and development. Finally, in the third phase, the program prepares young people for integration into the labor market, completing a comprehensive cycle that guarantees a positive and sustainable impact on their lives and communities.
“Our young people represent the perfect fusion of talent and opportunity. Their achievements are not only individual; in this class, as in all of our program sites, we highlight the commitment and resilience of our young people. They are young people who, little by little, knew how to adapt to the demands of a high academic performance scholarship and the demands of modern learning”, commented Roberto Kriete, President of Fundación Gloria Kriete.
“Being part of the Oportunidades Program has allowed me to achieve my goals and acquire skills I never imagined I could develop. Thanks to the program, I will also fulfill my dream of studying for a university degree”, said Yukio Alberto Ogawa Urquilla, an outstanding student from the Sonsonate branch. His high academic performance, responsibility and commitment led him to excel both in the program and in his school. Now, thanks to the scholarship granted by the program, Yukio will continue his higher education at the Universidad Centroamericana José Simeón Cañas (UCA), where he will study Computer Engineering.
Among the outstanding achievements of this graduating class is an overall grade point average of 8.9. In addition, 62% of the graduates will study STEM careers and 42% of girls will study engineering and technology careers.
Since its inception, the Oportunidades program has impacted more than 4,500 young people from vulnerable communities throughout the country. This model not only fosters academic excellence, but also inspires and trains leaders committed to the development of El Salvador.