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UPDATED October 18, 2010

Meet one of our newest program students. She lives and studies in Armenia.

"I started my studies at the end of August in Yeriwan. Since my father already taught me some German, I am doing well in my German course, but I am also doing well in English. I am able to live with my aunt here in Yeriwan. That saves me money since I do not have to pay anything for room and board.

My parents and brother live in Gyumri which is 120 km away. Even though that might not seem far away, I do not visit them often because I have to travel by bus and there is no schedule for buses to Gyumri. You simply take a seat on the bus and wait until all the seats are taken, and only then does the bus leave. So I only will visit home when I have several days since bus travel is not reliable time-wise.

I appreciate the opportunity given by LifeNets to study and obtain a degree in modern languages. Thank you very much.

Here is some current news of new students receiving funding from the the LifeNets Developing Nations Scholarship Fund. We thank everyone who has supported our Fund to help these people have a future!

First, from Ukraine. Here are two young ladies who have been part of our Vinogradov Street Children program (www.lifenets.org/vinogradov). We are now happy to see them move on with an education that will give them a meaningful profession. Both have enrolled at a Khust, Ukraine Monada technological school and are studying in a three-year dental technician program. We particularly thank the Scharpen Foundation for helping specifically with these young ladies.

"I wish to thank you for helping me with my studies through LifeNets. I am so excited to enroll for my CFA level II studies. Thank you very much!

"I passed my Level 1 Chartered Financial Analyst Program with flying colours. I can send you the result transcript if the one i sent you did not get to you. I am now looking forward to progressing to Level 2. Job opportunities are very rare in Zimbabwe and I keep praying for a breakthrough."

Linet is a Bachelor of Arts student at the University of Nairobi and is doing her 2^nd academic year. She does most of her studying at home; goes to the university during the months of April, August and December when the rest of the students are on recess. She tells me her classes involve carrying out revision with the lecturers and then taking an exam. If one scores good grades, one is allowed to proceed with the following semester. If one does not score good grades; one is allowed to redo the paper in question. Thankfully Linet has been doing wonderfully well.

Her first vision was to train as a Nurse, but she knew that would conflict with Sabbath-keeping and present unnecessary challenges. She prayed to God and he guided her current choice.

Linet tells me that her vision of University level education nearly collapsed. Her husband was more than willing to do everything possible to help her. Due to a low salary, he was forced to apply for loans to educate her. When Rose Helen McDowell and Judy Servidio appeared, their application for loan had been turned down twice. They were making plans for the 3^rd attempt when help finally arrived. She remains very thankful and agrees it was a miracle that God performed in her life. She is very touched by the generosity of the brethren behind her scholarship. “May God bless them bountifully”, she says.

Linet tells me she will now be preparing for the 5^th Semester which ends in Dec 2010, followed by the 6^th semester that ends in August 2011. Completion of the entire course and graduation is expected by end 2011.

In May this year; she will be expected to look for a school to allow her field attachment for Practice.

Linet is very thankful to God. She has seen His hand in her life and continues to expect more miracles from Him. She and her husband, and indeed the whole family, say a a big thank you from the heart to the team sacrificing for this scholarship.

January 7, 2009

Clip of LifeNets Developing Nations Scholarship Fund students below. See testimonials from young people whose lives are transformed by LifeNets.

From Timothy K. in Malawi--January 6, 2009

LifeNets has really changed the lives of many people I know in my country Malawi. Indeed, most of them had no hope for better education but because of LifeNets grants and scholarship, their future is certain. They say it is better to teach people how to fish, than give them fish!! Thanks to LifeNets!!

LifeNets had sponsored my last semester of studies for ND Mech Eng, I would just like to inform you that i have passed all my current studies and appreciate the assistance.

Just a word of thanks for the financial assistance via LifeNets towards my studies in the Mechanical Engineering field. It is much appreciated.

LifeNets is expanding it's Developing Nations Scholarship Fund to Kenya. More information.

I’m so thankful and feel privileged for the opportunity you have given me to achieve my dream on attaining a higher education. Without your great compassion and ineffable feat this would never have been possible.

I was accepted into the Zambia Insurance Business College where I am currently studying Insurance. And I am going work hard to get the best possible achievement of this wonderful opportunity.

Thank you so much for your support with other LifeNets donors for your great work which have improved the living standard of people throughout the world.

In addition, Sylvester started college in Lusaka, Zambia as well. LifeNets purchased both young men bicycles to provide transportation to and from their school.

My degree is dedicated to my late dad and to my mum, and I would like to leave no stone unturned with regard to the effort I invest to my end goal. To date, I won the class medal for marketing and I have been chosen from hundreds of applicants to tutor the course, something which is very rare as only final year marketing honours students are chosen.

This scholarship for me symbolises a breakthrough in terms of the huge financial constraints placed upon my mum. It would also provide me with peace of mind, regarding how my many expenses will be settled.

My aim apart from achieving the best possible results is to shine my light to my peers and show Christ-like behaviour in all I do.

To every person who has the vision to invest in us who receive scholarships, I thank you, I salute you, and I pray that i too may be as fortunate as you to donate to this worthy cause.

Sharon Rao from South Africa graduated from the the University of Cape Town with a Business Science Honors Degree and now works for Shell Petroleum in Cape Town. She won the class medal in her Honors class for the highest first class pass overall and her thesis won first prize in Marketing Honors 2005. Sharon says:

"My education has been my passport to the world. I have been tremendously blessed to have been offered an excellent job at at multi-billion dollar global company (Shell Pty Ltd.) Through my income I have been able to alleviate the burden of my widowed mother faced in supporting two children. My job has opened a new world of amazing opportunity, challenge and inspiration to me. The benefits of my education translate into every sphere of my life. I have become an independent, strong and open-minded person. My education has shaped me for the future."

Diverson Chonde from Malawi is another LifeNets scholarship success story. He is from near Lilongwe, Malawi. That is where I first met him in July 2000. He is married to Prisca and has two children. He found his way to the United Kingdom to educate himself further so that he could provide a better life for his family. He is actually is the chief of his community back in Malawi. While he was gone his wife Prisca took over the chief's duties.

LifeNets helped Diverson with a few certifications in computer science while in the United Kingdom. Here are few certificates that he earned. He is now able to have better work as he is continuing his studies. He has brought his wife and children to the United Kingdom. The photo is one that I took of him at Church services in Bricket Wood outside of London on November 16, 2002. Thanks to all who support the Developing Nations Scholarship Fund that helps 60 people like Diverson to gain an education....a lifetime investment!

Here is just one of the success stories from a program that has been sending nearly 60 young people such as Alida Pinto to University for the past four years. We hare happy to see positive results and thank all those contributing to this program for their continuous support of this core LifeNets Program.

Here are a few words from Alida Pinto in El Salvador:

I have the pleasure to tell you that last week was my graduation. I'm finally an architect.

My graduation was really beautiful and exciting, I had the honor to speak in the ceremony and gave a speech on the name of my graduate partners. I had that honor because I had the best grade of my class. I send a few photos of my graduation. I hope you like it.

Thank you for help, thank you for everything. This was only possible because of your help.

Alida Pinto.

Alida Pinto with her parents at graduation

Alida delivers speech at graduation

On the right is Alida with her diploma

Read about how the Developing Nations Scholarship Fund is making a difference for 18 students in Mexico.

For several years LifeNets has been helping deserving young adults in Latin America with scholarships. We have expanded to other areas of the world, namely to Africa and Eastern Europe.

We first established a means for young people to have better economic opportunity in Latin America. A vital key to achieve this is to become educated beyond secondary school. The alternative to an education is facing a 75% unemployment rate in an economy that pays a salary of $125 a month, for example, in El Salvador.

The cost of going to university is unreachable for most young people in the Latin American countries where LifeNets works. Yet, by US costs, the rates are manageable.

We started the first phase of school funding when visiting El Salvador in August 2001 when LifeNets awarded more one half year's tuition for 21 students to study at universities. The cost was $4100 which provided tuition to study dentistry, architecture, accounting, marketing, law, business administration, computer science, education, and more. What value! For what costs to fund a student at a good quality university for half a year in the United States, one can educate 21 students in El Salvador.

Along with concerned individuals, Ambassador Bible Center in Cincinnati, Ohio, young adults clubs, United Church of God congregations in Phoenix, Atlanta, Minneapolis, Lafayette IN, Charlotte, Bismarck, Wichita and other places, all joined in with fundraisers to finance the startup. LifeNets has helped finance three more students in Peru and Colombia.

In addition we want to especially thank Mark and Linda Roth of Neosho, Wisconsin who have auctioned off a van on eBay and have given $2500 proceeds to our Developing Nations Scholarship Fund. This gift alone has paid for nearly one third of the college tuitions of 21 students in El Salvador!

In November 2002 net proceeds of $2500 from the 1993 Eurovan on left were used to provide scholarships for deserving university students in El Salvador. This will help them obtain a profession and a decent and honorable living in a country where the unemployment rate is more than 50%. Be watching for the next project that will continue to help further the education of deserving students.

Now we are expanding to to help in Mexico with six deserving young people. Their total cost of tuition will be $7200 for a full year. This is new money that we will have to raise and would need broader support to maintain this along with the other scholarships. We feel that we cannot start helping young people and then pull away from our commitment.

Perhaps you or your church, service club or group would like to sponsor some of our needs below. Please let me know by writing by writing me at scholarships@lifenets.org.

As we fund the various needs in the countries we help, we will give full reports, accounting and letters from students about how they're doing.

Each country will have a scholarship committee that will monitor the needs, report to LifeNets and make certain that funding goes only to students who are worthy. We will publish the names of the students of each country and have them tell us how they're doing right here.

We estimate that the scholarship fund will need about $25,000 a year to provide tuition money for about 30 students. Those are not exact figures, but close. By working together we can provide OPPORTUNITY and HOPE that these young people would not have. Would you like to help?