Your support will directly help Edith and Alex, their families, the BECAS community, and Barrio Santa Maria. We hope that as the scholars and BECAS continue to grow, you will also continue to grow with us.

As requested, below are the recipes for the amazing Quinoa Salad and wonderful Menestra

Quinoa Salad

• 3 cups cooked quinoa
• 2 green onions, white and light green parts – sliced
• 1 small cucumber, halved, seeded and chopped
• 1/2 to 1 cup chopped cilantro – your taste

Dressing

• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 1 tablespoon vinegar
• 1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger (or more to your taste)
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• Salt to taste
• Pinch of cayenne
• 1/2 cup oil (canola &/or olive)

In a small bowl whisk together the lime juice, vinegar, ginger, garlic, salt , cayenne and oil.  In a salad bowl, combine quinoa, green onions, cucumber and cilantro. Toss with the dressing and serve with avocado.

Menestra

• 2 cups, black beans, soaked overnight or at least a few hours
• 1 bay leaf
• 4 tsps., cumin seeds
• 4 tsps., dried oregano or a handful of fresh
• 4 tsps., Paprika
• 1/2 tsp., cayenne pepper (or use hot sauce)
• 1 chili negro or ancho chili (or use chili powder)
• 3 Tbsp., cooking oil
• 3 medium yellow onions, diced or chopped well
• 4 cloves, garlic, chopped
• 1/2 tsp., good salt
• one and a half cups, tomatoes, fresh or canned, with juice
• 1 tsp., chipotle chili
• 1 Tbsp, rice wine vinegar

Drain beans, cover with water, add bay leaf and simmer.

Toast cumin seeds in small pan, then add oregano, then Paprika and cayenne pepper. Remove from heat, then grind spices together.
 If using ancho or negro chili, stem & seed, then toast in pan, grind up and add to other spices.

Saute onions in oil until soft, then add garlic, salt, spices & chili pepper. Cook 5 minutes. Add tomatoes and 1 tsp., chipotle chili. Simmer for 15 minutes.

Add mixture to beans, add water if needed, and simmer until beans are soft, keeping water level above beans. When done, add vinegar, and, if needed, more chipotle chili, salt.

Garnish with grated cheese, cilantro, red onion, sour cream, or green chilis

Highlights of 2011-2012

Download the full Report

Download: BECAS Evaluation Final Report

Two great news items! Edith, a BECAS Scholar since 2009, has been voted in as the 9th grade class president! And Cinthia, one of newest scholars and in the 2nd grade, was just awarded the 2011 Honor Student diploma from her school! Your donations support these two scholars, among others, who are growing into future leaders for Ecuador.

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BECAS is growing in not only the number of scholars we support, but also in the services we provide. The program is evolving from focusing on educational scholarships to providing holistic care to Barrio Santa Maria, by working with twelve talented and gifted scholars. This month board member, Allison Mangiarancino, writes about a growing component of the program- health care. Enjoy!

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Our scholars are back in school! This year we welcome 4 new scholars and 8 returning scholars.  Let’s introduce our new scholars first: Amber, Gilson, Michele, and Katherine.

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Summer has been a busy time for BECAS. This year we grew by 50% and now support 12 scholars! Lili, BECAS’s Ecuadorian social worker and teacher, has worked extremely hard all summer to prepare for the new and returning scholars.

This month, founding Board member Linda Campbell, shares with us her thoughts on BECAS’s summer activities – staying healthy and active in summertime!

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BECAS is proud to welcome our newest scholars for the 2011-2012 school year! After much deliberation and reflection, the Board, along with our Ecuadorian Social Worker and Teacher, Lili Bastida, would like to invite you, our supporter, to welcome these four amazing students to BECAS: Amber, Gilson, Mishele, and Katherine!

Continue Reading about our newest Scholars

BECAS scholars with Lili

Wendy is speaking in a louder and clearer voice.  Cinthya can complete dictation exercises without any problems. Alex’s and Virginia’s grades have improved this trimester.

These are just a few of the nuggets of progress that the BECAS board receives each month in informes from our program’s social worker, Liliana Sirley de la Bastida.  The reports detail the activities and goals for each BECAS scholar, keep us abreast of their progress, and help us to find ways to meet their needs as they develop educationally and personally.

As the newest member of the BECAS board, these reports have been great sources of inspiration as I look for ways to help expand the BECAS community and support our scholars.  The successes, both big and small, demonstrate the true power of an education for children
facing the monumental challenges of barrio life.  While the funding provided by BECAS actually gets them to the point of sitting at a desk in a classroom, the mentorship provided by Liliana and the monthly “check-ins” are motivational factors that keep kids like Cinthya and Alex enthusiastic about learning and make them want to be a part of the program, despite the distractions and challenges of living in poverty.

Newest board member, Allison, with children in Ecuador.

Learning that Wendy is developing her self-confidence and speaking ability, or that Virginia’s grades have improved,gives me hope that these kids will learn early on that little achievements will lead to a greater understanding of the world around them and will break down the economic barriers that have stopped generations before them from realizing their true potential.  To be fair, they experience setbacks like anyone else, but their day-to-day progress documented in these reports gives me hope that they see a brighter future for themselves.   It is a constant reminder for me to spread the word about BECAS and grow our community!

Gracias,
Allison