Ecuador Scholarship Program

"I received a scholarship to finish my last year of secondary school. After I graduated, I started working at a daycare center in my community. I worked for two years without studying so I could save money to begin at the university. But, the money I saved still wasn’t enough to cover all the costs. Then The Tandana Foundation offered me the great opportunity to have help with my university studies. They trusted in my ability and in my dreams, and because of this I will keep studying with so much dedication, effort, and lots of enthusiasm.”

-- Margarita from Ecuador

Overview

Scholarship Program Overview

Tandana offers rural Ecuadorian students funding so that they can continue their secondary education. We support about 100 high school students each year. Although secondary education is theoretically free in Ecuador, and there is no tuition fee, there are many other costs such as books, school supplies, uniforms, bus fare, internet costs for doing homework, unexpected needs such as when everyone is required to bring money because the teacher is sick or when the classroom needs to be painted, or if they are going on a field trip.

Tandana also supports students in pursuing their professional dreams after they graduate from high school. Our post-secondary students are studying accounting, tourism, medicine, clothing design, auto mechanics, business administration, and other subjects so that they can become professionals who contribute their skills to their communities and society. In exchange for Tandana's support, post-secondary scholarship recipients engage in community service to share their new skills and knowledge for the betterment of their communities. Each student covers half of his or her costs, often by working during the week and attending weekend university programs, or sometimes through support from their families. Tandana covers the other half of expenses.

Vacation Courses

Our scholarship students in Ecuador often have a difficult transition from their small, rural elementary schools to their large secondary schools in the city. They have asked us to offer summer classes to help them with their most challenging subjects, English and math. Each summer, we offer five weeks of free classes in these subjects and others to about 60 students, including both scholarship recipients and others in the surrounding communities. Local teachers instruct in math, while our summer interns teach English and other subjects such as geography, art, history, and health. Sometimes our university scholarship students teach as well. To add to the educational experience, we take the students on field trips and arrange small service projects for them to participate in. The classes help reinforce their skills, catch up on concepts they missed in school, and prepare them to succeed in the upcoming academic year.

Support a Student

For about $300, you can make it possible for an Ecuadorian student to attend secondary school for one year. For about $1500, you can make it possible for a student to attend university for one year. If you would like to help a scholar continue studying, please

Stories

Mar

Tandana’s Ecuador Scholarship Coordinator shares updates on the program’s start to the year

It was a very busy January for Verónica Pazmiño, who coordinates The Tandana Foundation’s scholarship program in Ecuador. The program, which provides scholarships to around 100 high school students and dozens of university students each year, supported a number of activities throughout the month, including exchanges that connected students across continents and cultures, a celebration … Continue reading "Tandana’s Ecuador Scholarship Coordinator shares updates on the program’s start to the year"

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Feb

A song of appreciation: ‘Tandana, where our hearts come together’

My name is Boubacar Minta, the cousin of a Tandana Foundation scholarship student, who was one of the first health technician students at the Bouctou school in Bandiagara supported by Tandana. English Español Une chanson de reconnaissance : « Tandana, là où nos cœurs se rejoignent » Je m’appelle Boubacar Minta, cousin d’un étudiant boursier … Continue reading "A song of appreciation: ‘Tandana, where our hearts come together’"

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Dec

A dream come true: The Eagle and the Condor exchange

On the 10th anniversary of The Tandana Foundation, the dream of an exchange program from Ecuador to the United States was born. A group of university students at that time requested the opportunity to participate in a cultural exchange and share their culture. English Français Un sueño hecho realidad: El intercambio del Águila y el … Continue reading "A dream come true: The Eagle and the Condor exchange"

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Dec

A journey that transformed my life: Cultural exchange in the U.S.

I want to focus this blog on telling one of the most important experiences of my life, something that marked my heart forever: my participation in the first cultural exchange between Ecuadorian students to the United States, which was organized by The Tandana Foundation. English Français Un Viaje que Transformó mi Vida: Intercambio Cultural en … Continue reading "A journey that transformed my life: Cultural exchange in the U.S."

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Nov

What I learned during my trip to the U.S. through the Eagle and Condor program

This trip to the United States was much more than a simple academic or cultural experience: it was an adventure of the soul. During my stay, I had the opportunity to live moments that deeply sparked my emotions, learning and encounters that took my heart to different corners of that country. I want to share … Continue reading "What I learned during my trip to the U.S. through the Eagle and Condor program"

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Nov

My journey through culture: a journey between traditions and discoveries

My name is Joselyn Perugachi. I am a Kichwa woman from Otavalo and I live in the community of Cachicullá, which is part of the beautiful canton of Otavalo. I study agricultural engineering and I am one of the scholarship recipients of The Tandana Foundation. English Français Mi viaje a través de la cultura: un … Continue reading "My journey through culture: a journey between traditions and discoveries"

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Nov

From Ecuador to the U.S.: My journey with Tandana, an exchange that changed my outlook on life

Hello, my name is Fredy Xavier Panama, and I am 22 years old. I belong to the community of Padre Chupa, and I live in Quichinche. I study agricultural engineering at the Technical University of Cotopaxi. I am a scholarship recipient of The Tandana Foundation. Thanks to this scholarship, I had the opportunity to experience … Continue reading "From Ecuador to the U.S.: My journey with Tandana, an exchange that changed my outlook on life"

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Oct

My first trip to the U.S.: A cultural exchange experience

Traveling to the United States was a dream come true. This trip was not only my first trip abroad – it was also an unforgettable experience thanks to the cultural exchange organized by The Tandana Foundation. I went on this unforgettable adventure with a group of colleagues who belong to this prestigious foundation. During the … Continue reading "My first trip to the U.S.: A cultural exchange experience"

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Oct

Showcasing the indigenous Kichwa Otavalo culture at immersive event in Colorado

Last month at the Sunflower Theatre in Cortez, Colorado, The Tandana Foundation hosted an exciting event – The Eagle and the Condor Flying Together – that immersed attendees in the indigenous Kichwa Otavalo culture of Ecuador. The Kichwa Otavalo are one of Ecuador’s indigenous groups most successful at maintaining their cultural identity and traditions. Español … Continue reading "Showcasing the indigenous Kichwa Otavalo culture at immersive event in Colorado"

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Aug

Through perseverance, a scholarship recipient is supporting her community’s tailoring needs

I’m Aminata Wodiou, from Idieli Douh, in the township of Dourou. My father is a local mason and my mother is a housewife. English Español Grâce à sa persévérance, une boursière soutient les besoins de sa communauté en matière de couture Je suis Aminata Wodiou, je suis de Idieli Douh, dans la commune de Dourou. … Continue reading "Through perseverance, a scholarship recipient is supporting her community’s tailoring needs"

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