Martin is an Afro-Ecuadorian teenager from a low-income background who has always strived to learn English. At the age of 13, Martin applied for a scholarship to study English, and we agreed to support him. Initially, he didn’t know how to say basic words, but during the pandemic, he made the most of his free time and was able to significantly improve his English level at Shalom Academy. In 2022, he was selected by the U.S. Department of State as a "Young Ambassador" from Ecuador to the United States. He now dedicates himself to motivating those around him and in his community to learn English and dream big.

Víctor is a civil engineer from the Technical University of Ambato who always believed in himself and decided to prepare for his master’s degree in Germany at the Technical University of Berlin. His studies were conducted in English, as Germany offers academic programs in this language, so he prepared to take the official IELTS exam. Although he had to take the IELTS twice due to technical issues, he did not give up and kept moving forward with his dream. Living in Germany was not easy for Víctor, as his mother passed away during his time there. Despite all the pain, he continued his studies and successfully graduated in 2024.

Emilia and Abigail are sisters who study through homeschooling. Their lives are quite different from other children their age since they don’t attend a traditional school. However, they enjoy the opportunity to study from home, the freedom to include different activities in their education, and are excellent French students. In just seven months, they completed the A1 level for children.

Samantha had a big challenge at the young age of 10. She needed to prepare to enroll in the German School of Quito, which required her to have an A2 level in German. With the support of her German teacher, Doménica Villacís, she completed the necessary German level in one year and successfully joined the German School. Her studies at Shalom Academy allow her to interact naturally with the rest of her classmates.