Fundación Poma, the ¡Supérate! Business Program and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) celebrated the graduation of the twelfth graduating class of the ¡Supérate! Fundación Poma, made up of 40 young people. All of them completed their studies in complementary education in the areas of English, computer science and values.
The graduates of the 12th promotion of the Centro ¡Supérate! Fundación Poma reside in Antiguo Cuscatlán, Zaragoza, San José Villanueva, Santa Tecla, Colón, Puerto de la Libertad, Tepecoyo, Nuevo Cuscatlán, Huizúcar, Quezaltepeque, Ciudad Arce, San Juan Opico and San Pablo Tacachico.
The ceremony was presided over by Gabriela Poma, Director of the Board of Directors of the Programa ¡Supérate!, and Alejandro Poma, Vice President of Fundación Poma. The graduates were also accompanied by representatives of the Programa ¡Supérate!, Microsoft, parents and caregivers, as well as teachers and members of the Fundación Poma team.
During her speech, Gabriela Poma congratulated the young people for their achievement and motivated them to continue striving on their new path. “We are proud of the growth that each one has experienced at our Center”, she said. “Their participation in our program has provided them with knowledge and tools to continue opening doors for themselves in the workplace and academia, but it has also been an experience that has strengthened their self-confidence, broadened their horizons and pushed them to dream. Continue taking steps that bring you closer to your goals and along the way also remember to share your achievements with others”, she concluded.
“My experience in the Programa Superate! has been truly transformative. During these three years, I had the opportunity to acquire not only technical and academic knowledge, but also essential skills for my personal and professional development. The values they promoted, such as discipline and responsibility, have prepared me to face the challenges of the future”, said Melissa Salguero, a graduate of the ¡Supérate!, Fundación Poma, and who will continue her studies with a degree in Communication Sciences.
Ernesto Orellana, Director of the Centro ¡Supérate! Fundación Poma, emphasized that in addition to receiving technical training, “emphasis has been placed on caring for the health and well-being of young people, providing them with tools to discover themselves and build a life plan that matches their opportunities, purposes and to continue contributing to our country in the coming years”.
“I would like to express my sincere thanks to Fundación Poma and all the people and corporate sponsors who make this program possible. Their commitment to education and youth development has changed my life and the lives of many young people. I am convinced that the training I have received will allow me to make a positive contribution to my community and to the country. Thank you for believing in us! “, Salguero said.
Of the XII graduating class, 36 graduates plan to start college. To date, thirteen of them have received a scholarship and 16 are in the process of applying for one. Among the young people who will study with support, seven will study at the Escuela Superior de Economía y Negocios (ESEN). Since it began operating in 2011, the Centro ¡Supérate! Fundación Poma has graduated 532 young people.