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Scholarship Program
In 2008, Shared Beat established Healthcare Scholarships to assist students living in the Guatemala City dump area interested in pursuing healthcare careers. Through the Scholarship Program, Shared Beat is striving to provide financial assistance for education to students while improving the success of sustainable healthcare in Guatemala.
From 2008 to 2025, the number of student scholarships awarded has grown from two to nineteen. The annual budget for these scholarships has increased from $2,000 to $67,000. Since inception, the Scholarship Program has supported and graduated 24 students, 10 from university and 14 from health careers high school.
Education System in Guatemala
Here is some general information about the school system in Guatemala. Like the United States, the educational system in Guatemala is divided into three levels: primary (elementary), secondary (high school), and university. Education in Guatemala is free through sixth grade, or between the ages of seven and 14. However, due to the sparse locations of the public schools and family responsibilities, only 30% of the population complete the primary school.
Shared Beat’s mission is to help secure healthy futures for our students in the communities we serve through education, prevention, and empowerment. The scholarship program has allowed Shared Beat to help students continue their education to the secondary (career-oriented high school) and university level. The costs for each program are reachable when compared to university costs in the United States. For example, the secondary school costs per year are approximately $1,800 USD and the university costs range from $2,200 (nursing) to $10,000 (medical school), with several other degree plans falling within the annual range.
Annual Costs and Duration for Specific Areas of Study:
Health Careers High School – $1,800 (2 years)
Nurses Aid – $1,200 (2 years)
Professional Nurse – $2,200 (3.5 years)
Physical Therapy – $3,500 (5 years)
Respiratory Therapy – $2,000 (5 years)
Nutrition – $4,500 (5 years)
Speech Therapy – $2,000 (3.5 years)
Medical School (Doctor) – $10,000 (7 years)
Current Students
Post Graduates
Since inception, the Scholarship Program has supported, and graduated, the following students through the generous support of our donors:
Middle School and Health Careers High School Graduates
Five of these graduates are adult women who came to us after graduating from 6th grade.
University Graduates
Policies & Procedures
Shared Beat applications for scholarship are received by July 1st each year. The applications are reviewed, and the applicants are interviewed in late July. Scholarship awardees are notified by September 15th of each year.
Each student is required to execute a Scholarship Agreement which states the dollar amount of their financial award along with the conditions for the scholarship to remain in place. A copy of the Scholarship Agreement and the Scholarship Policies and Procedures is attached.
In addition to working with the Shared Beat volunteers at the February and July medical clinics in Guatemala City, Shared Beat has started to focus on challenging the students that graduate to “pay it forward”. Shared Beat believes there are numerous ways for a graduate to help their communities or help scholarship students in the program.
One example of paying it forward is Ruth Guerra. Ruth graduated with a nursing technician degree is 2017 with help from Shared Beat. She wanted to find a way to help the surrounding communities where she grew up. Ruth is currently working as the Health Coordinator for several schools in these communities and represents Shared Beat’s “Healthy Together” program. Ruth’s position oversees and supports the health education of approximately 1500 students within 9 rural community schools. In addition, Ruth is now able to pay for herself to go back to college to complete the professional nursing degree, which is like an RN in the U.S.
Shared Beat would like to say a special THANK YOU to all the generous supporters of the Scholarship Program who share their hearts with the students! You are making a difference!
If you are interested in applying for a scholarship, please contact Donette Bisett at info@sharedbeat.org or Marie Berkenkamp at info@sharedbeat.org.
