Changing the World One Scholar at a Time

Students in the IAMCBOB scholarship program reflect on how the program has impacted their lives and helped them to reach their goals.

By: Micayla Kinder
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IAMCBOB is a scholarship program funded through Children Beyond Our Borders, Inc. that works to give students who face adversity in Colombia the chance to go to college. Colombia has one of the highest levels of social inequality in South America and this program aims to help these young adults pursue their dreams and have the opportunity to be the change they want to see in the world. Scholars receive an all-expense-paid college education, and in exchange act as service leaders to work to give back to their communities. The IAMCBOB scholarship program has been sponsoring five students this past year and has helped one IAMCBOB scholar to graduate! IAMCBOB has also selected five new students to be a part of the program: Andrea Cano, Juliana Cossio, Luisa Maria Bedoya, Yeny Lopez and Valentina Rincon. We are excited to be welcome them to the CBOB family and see them grow throughout their journey in college.
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Last month Yosimar Palacios Becerra became the first IAMCBOB scholar to graduate and his life has been changed for the better. Yosimar spoke about how he is incredibly grateful for the IAMCBOB program.
“Being an IAMCBOB scholar has been one of the biggest blessings of my life. CBOB means the world to me and I will forever be grateful to it for changing my life,” Yosimar said. “They have shown me that nothing is impossible in life, and that you should never let anything or anyone stop you from making your dreams come true. If I can make it, everyone can.”

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Yosimar went above and beyond his commitments as a scholar and was constantly volunteering with CBOB, putting on workshops and assisting with Bound for Peace trip logistics.
“This has been one of the greatest experiences of my life. I started volunteering as CBOB’s trip coordinator in Cartagena arranging hotels, food, excursions, workshops with the children and anything else that the volunteers may need,” Yosimar said. “I have been doing this for the last five years, so it is kind of crazy because I volunteer, work, and go to university, but I love it so there is no pain doing it. I want the best for the community and my dream is that more children will achieve their dreams like I am doing right now.”
Yosimar plans to continue working in the tourism industry and is excited to see what the future holds. He is currently in the United States starting an internship and will be there for three months.
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Davian De Jesús Ortíz Velásquez is also an IAMCBOB scholar who has benefitted greatly from the program. Davian is studying Industrial Design in Medellin, Colombia and spoke briefly about his experience with the scholar’s  program.
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“It has been a wonderful experience since IAMCBOB opened the doors for a new and prosperous future for me,” Davian said. “Now I can get ahead and fight with better tools for my family and for everyone that needs my support. I have learned thousands of things for my personal and collective development.”

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Jeison Alexander Orrego Toro, a Civil Engineering Student in Medellin, Colombia, is another  IAMCBOB scholar. Jeison hopes to someday work and do a specialization in the United States.
“It has been the most valuable experience of my life,” Jeison said. “Since becoming a part of CBOB, I learn new things every day and I see my dreams get closer. I have met wonderful people and I hope to keep those friendships in my life.”
    Jeison stated that though being in college is challenging, he is persevering with the help of those around him.
“The most difficult thing about being in university is leaving important things in your life aside in order to dedicate yourself to studying for exams,” Jeison said. “The university is a valuable and difficult stage in life. Thanks to the support of my family and CBOB, it has been an adventure, but thanks to God I do very well.”

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You can become an IAMCBOB sponsor today and change someone’s life by helping them  become empowered through education. By contributing any amount for these students you are not only providing them with the opportunity to better themselves, but also equipping them to better their communities and ultimately better the world. Visit www.chbob.org/iamcbob-scholarship to learn more about our IAMCBOB scholarship program and find out how you can become a sponsor.