Every PathLight sponsor is a PathMaker

A PathMaker invests in a carefully selected Belizean scholar, covering not just their high school costs, but the full wraparound support they need to reach graduation and beyond. For $50/month, you can help pave the path to graduation for a student who has already shown the drive to go the distance.

See how it works

Why Sponsorship Matters 

For many students in Belize, the path to a high school education is anything but guaranteed.

Fees and supply costs add up year after year, and many students may be the first in their families with the option to move beyond elementary school. As a result, only half of eligible students across Belize enroll in high school. Of those who do, only half make it to graduation. That means just one in four eligible students receives the education they’ve earned the right to pursue.

Only 1 in 4 eligible students in Belize graduates high school.1

Who PathLight Selects

PathLight scholars are chosen through a rigorous, competitive process: essays, assessments, teacher recommendations, and a formal in-person interview at a PathLight center. Fewer than 15% of applicants are selected each year, and every student demonstrates both high academic potential and significant financial need.

When you sponsor a PathLight student, you can trust that they’ve been chosen with care, and that they’ve already shown the drive to go the distance.

More than Tuition

A PathLight scholarship doesn’t just cover tuition, but provides wraparound support built to remove every obstacle that a student might face and to offer extra opportunities for growth along the way.

Access

Each scholarship covers every cost related to a student’s education.

Mentoring

Every scholar has a mentor invested in who they’re becoming.

Formation

PathLight prepares students not just to graduate, but to lead.

Every PathLight student is showered in love and care to help them reach their full, God-given potential.

Sponsor a student

The Results

Our wraparound model is working.

  • 96% of PathLight scholars graduate high school 2 compared to just 50% of their peers nationally. 1
  • 85%+ of PathLight scholars consistently make the honor roll. 3
  • 93% of PathLight students continue their education in college and vocational schools after reaching graduation, and over two thirds of them with PathLight scholarships. 4

These results are what happen when students who’ve already proven their drive are given everything they need to go the distance.

96% Graduate High School

85% Make the Honor Roll

93% Continue Education

“It’s incredible to see the transformation that occurs. Within a short period of time PathLight students become very confident, independent thinkers. PathLight provides the foundation in both ethics and education: this is what we really want to see in our future leaders of tomorrow.”

Mike Hendry

Sponsor

Become a PathMaker

When you become a PathMaker, you commit to walk with a student along their path to graduation.

Sponsorship starts at $50/month, and a student’s costs are fully covered at $250/month. However much you give, you are helping pave the path to success for a young Belizean leader. 

become a sponsor

Jaylen

Belize City

Jaylen’s dream is to become a police officer, following in his mother’s footsteps and carrying on her legacy of protecting and serving their community.

Frequently Asked Questions

Most scholarship programs just cover school fees, which often isn’t enough to prevent students from dropping out by their third year of high school when the academic load gets more challenging in Belize. 

PathLight’s Sponsorship+ model is built around the understanding that a student needs holistic support to reach graduation. That means covering not just their financial needs, but also caring for their mental health, academic growth, and personal development. That’s why every PathLight scholar also receives tutoring, counseling, community service opportunities, and 400+ hours a year with a dedicated Christian mentor. Our 96% graduation rate, compared to just 50% nationally, reflects what’s possible when every barrier is addressed, not just the financial one.

PathLight’s work is rooted in Christian faith, and spiritual formation is woven into everything we do—from mentoring to character development to the culture of our centers. That said, anyone who believes in the power of education and opportunity is welcome to become a PathMaker. What we ask of our sponsors is a commitment to the student, not a statement of faith. To learn more about PathLight’s core values, click here.   

Yes. PathMakers receive periodic updates from their sponsored students, including photos and personal reflections, so you can follow their journey and celebrate their milestones. Our sponsorship team works hard to keep sponsors connected to the students they support. 

Students who want to continue their education past high school can apply for PathLight’s Future Pathways program. Future Pathways provides support for those seeking to pursue vocational training or college, up to a bachelor’s degree. Most of our high school graduates apply to continue with PathLight—if your sponsored student is among them, we will reach out to you with next steps before they graduate.

Yes, and we would love for you to! Our Path program brings sponsors and supporters alike to Belize for an immersive experience that includes time with students, staff, and the communities where PathLight works. Many PathMakers say the trip deepens their connection to the mission in ways that are hard to put into words. Learn more about our Path program here.

 PathLight works hard to retain every scholar we select—that’s part of why our wraparound support model exists. If a student does leave the program for any reason, we will work with you directly to connect you with another student who needs the same support.

Footnotes:

1. UNICEF Belize Education Report 2024
2. Graduation rate for the class of 2026
3. Honor roll rate from 2025
4. Continuing education rate from 2026

Not ready for a monthly commitment?

A one-time gift of any amount goes directly toward student sponsorships.

Donate today