Having spent so much time in the schools with relief efforts and facility improvements, the next logical step was to help keep kids in school beyond the 6th grade, the government mandated that kids only needed to complete the 6th grade. Many parents could not afford the fees associated with attending the 7th grade and beyond. Others dropped out to help the family in the fields. HEDAC responded with a scholarship program to keep these kids in school. Financial support was in the form of purchasing uniforms, covering transportation costs, purchase of supplies (backpacks, note books, pens, scissors, etc.) and mentoring. 196 students were part of the program and for some, ran through 7th grade to graduating high school.
