Past Programs

The Scholarship Fund was the first program of the Kateri Tekakwitha Fund. Since its establishment in 1997, the fund has provided financial assistance to over 70 girls and young women. With the financial support of the Kateri Education Fund, girls and young women are able to stay in school and complete their education beyond elementary school. Kateri Education Fund graduates have gone on to pursue careers in accounting, teaching, nursing, music and the arts, and business. 

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The Indigenous women of Guatemala speak 21 different regional languages. For many of these young women, the only time they speak or write Spanish is at school. The Kateri Education Fund developed the Writing Program to help these young women improve their writing skills. These skills are critical to their future careers. During monthly meetings, staff members coach the young women as they write letters to their sponsors. They use these letters as a way to learn how to better express themselves in Spanish.

 

In 2019, the decision was made to phase out the Scholarship Fund in order to funnel more resources to the Internship Program. This decision was made after an evaluation of the needs and available resources of the young women in Guatemala. Funds are now directed toward the transitional period between education and career, namely toward the Internship Program.