The Vice President of El Salvador, Mr. Félix Ulloa Jr., met recently with Ms. Aurora de Rato, Director General of the Padre Arrupe Foundation in Spain, and Mr. Santiago Nogales, Director of the Colegio Español Padre Arrupe. The meeting focused on enhancing initiatives to promote education and healthcare in the country.
“Thanks to the support of the Government of El Salvador, we have awarded 1,100 scholarships to children from low-income families,” emphasized the foundation’s representatives. They also discussed their recent meeting with members of the Finance Commission of the Legislative Assembly, where they presented a report on the results achieved during the year.
The representatives highlighted partnerships formed with the Institute for Veterans and Ex-Combatants’ Benefits (INABVE), which have enabled the provision of vocational courses in areas such as cosmetology and tailoring, thereby promoting professional development for this sector and their families.
The Colegio Español Padre Arrupe supports 1,700 children from vulnerable backgrounds through a comprehensive scholarship program that ensures they complete their education. The curriculum’s inclusion of artistic and technological training enriches their learning experience and equips them with the skills necessary to overcome barriers, such as social stigma. Additionally, the foundation’s clinic serves over 60,000 patients annually, offering general medical services and 29 specialties.
During the meeting, Vice President Ulloa reaffirmed the government’s commitment to advancing education, creating opportunities, and fostering social welfare under the leadership of President Nayib Bukele. Ms. Claudia de Larín, Executive Director of ESIAP, also participated.
This week, the Finance Commission also welcomed representatives from the Padre Arrupe Foundation to discuss their work with funds allocated in the 2024 budget. “In the school, we have 1,898 students in 2024, all of whom are on scholarships. We operate a co-financed scholarship system where families contribute based on their income, and we support the rest with resources from the foundation and third-party donors,” explained foundation representative Ms. Aurora Salazar.
Santiago Nogales, the institution’s director, confirmed that socioeconomic studies are conducted to determine each family’s contribution based on their income, ensuring equitable support for all students.