What is BECA
BECA is a nonprofit organization, founded in 1995 by local members of the La Misión community from both sides of the border.
BECA (which translates to “scholarship” in Spanish) was created to support the education of La Misión children, to identify the most gifted and motivated students, and help them to reach career goals that would be impossible without help.
BECA is an all-volunteer organization with minimal overhead costs. Generous donations of time, expertise and creativity help raise the much-needed thousands of dollars annually to support the educational goals of local La Misión students.
Your involvement in BECA’s annual social events helps raise funds for the scholarship program that has benefited local youth since 1998.
See past and future BECA events.
Our Mission
Our Mission is to support local students with scholarships and financial aid to enable them to stay in school, pursue their dreams, and rise above a life of poverty and manual labor.
Progress
The work and dedication of the La Mision Children’s Fund BECA scholarship committee has never been stronger or more important than they are now during this world pandemic. The other activities of the LMCF include building maintenance for the local schools, providing Wi-Fi, tutoring, school backpacks, security lighting, and necessities like toilet paper along with maintenance of three area schools pure water systems. We coordinate the outreach activities for the University of California San Diego’s Global TIES and Engineers without Borders programs that install solar water heating and pure water projects at Tijuana orphanages. The Morada del Nino Jesus orphanage for handicapped children receives direct support from LMCF patrons. Depending on future pandemic conditions, we have always encouraged individuals, families, schools, and church groups to come and volunteer their time.
Scholarships
2022-2023 Scholarships:
16 Elementary
35 Junior High School
26 High School
45 University
Total 122 qualified students = BECA Budget $24,087
Teacher support for extra English classes = BECA Budget $6,300
Success Stories
ERIKA, age 27, graduated in 2014 from UABC in Ensenada with a degree in Physical Education and now works at La Misión High School. As one of seven kids in her family, Erika says she would never have continued her education past high school without support from BECA.
Erika tutors students and inspires them with her story of hardship and persistence because she has learned first hand that education provides more choices in life.
ARTURO, age 30, works at the Door of Faith Orphanage in La Misión and is a testament to persistence, tenacity and the power of education to change lives. Arturo received BECA support from grade school to college, but had to drop out to support his family after his father died.
Feeling adrift and yearning to continue his college degree, Arturo returned to UABC in Tijuana where he will soon receive his degree in Psychology and become the staff psychologist at the orphanage.
MIGUEL, now age 23, was repeatedly told he would never amount to anything. From a very young age, he cooked and cleaned for his family, yet they still rejected him for being gay. Now, with support from BECA, Miguel is studying culinary arts and dreams of someday having his own restaurant.
Three years can make a difference. Miguel is now the pastry chef for one of the restaurants in Ensenada. He also makes cakes and pastries freelance.
This year Miguel gave cake baking instructions to five of the ladies from the Colonia La Mision. These ladies have never had a diploma in their lives. Many never finished grammar school. Now, with the help of Miguel, they can make money by using the skills taught by Miguel. They also have their first diploma. Miguel understands clearly, opportunity, determination, intellect, and desire will change not only one life but many.
ARACELI, age 23, was facing a future much like that of her friends and family with few options beyond cleaning houses for a living. Now, thanks to mentorship and the financial support provided by BECA, Araceli is studying to become a social worker at a university in Ensenada. She dreams of helping others overcome life’s challenges.
OXIRIS, age 19, dreams of a better life. With five brothers, one sister, and parents separated, she describes a life that is hard for most of us to imagine. Her mother cleans houses, sells coconuts, does whatever she can to feed her children. At the University in Ensenada, Oxiris is working hard to overcome these odds.
FRANCISCO, age 20, is in the gastronomy program at the university in Ensenada. His mother is the oldest of 17 children and his father died when he was only three. Thanks to support from BECA, Francisco can imagine a life beyond drugs and poverty and dreams of becoming a great chef.
Help us help these hard-working children by donating to BECA.
