Scholar Stories
First Literacy Scholars are united by their commitment to relentlessly pursuing their goals and creating opportunities for themselves, their families, and their communities. Our scholars come from around the world, from Massachusetts to Sierra Leone, and each of them has overcome significant obstacles to get to where they are today. We are proud to support these scholars as they work to change the narrative of what adult literacy looks like. The scholars listed below have been generous enough to share their stories with us. If you are looking for a full list of all recent scholars, please visit our Scholar Page.
First Literacy 2025-2026 Scholars
Guyliano
Guyliano moved to the United States from Haiti in November 2022. In Haiti, Guyliano built a successful career as a top manager in the Maritime...
Maria
María grew up in Venezuela, where political and economic instability made everyday life increasingly difficult. In search of a better future, she...
Rosa
Rosa was 18 years old when she moved from the Dominican Republic to New York to have her daughter. She spent nearly five years there before moving...
Ysabel
Ysabel grew up in a family of schoolteachers in Peru. Her mother died when she was only eleven years old, and her father raised her and her siblings...
Sindi
Sindi grew up in the Dominican Republic, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in education and worked as an elementary school teacher. In her early...
Priscilla
Priscilla is a devoted mother to a 14-year-old daughter and a 5-year-old son. Originally from Brazil, she studied Human Resources before relocating...
Pa Modou
Pa Modou comes from a small country in West Africa, where he witnessed firsthand how education can profoundly transform an individual’s life....
Nicolas
When Nicolás arrived in the United States, he was determined to build a better life for himself and his family. He knew very little English, but...
Natalia
At twenty-three years old, Natalia made the decision to move to the United States to seek out opportunities that were not available in her home...
Karen
Karen was born in the Cape Verde Islands and grew up dreaming of studying law in the United States. Despite her determination, the high cost of...
Emani
Emani grew up with a deep love for learning. Raised by her grandmother due to her parents’ struggles with addiction, Emani experienced severe...
Wenley
Wenley’s education journey began in Haiti, where his early years of elementary school were marked by curiosity and a passion for learning. Despite...
Sheila
Sheila grew up in a close-knit family in West Africa where she saw first-hand the impact dedicated healthcare professionals, specifically nurses,...
Sabrina
Sabrina was born in Uruguay and moved to the United States with her parents when she was seven years old. Her parents were determined to provide her...
Ana
Ana was born in Medellin, Colombia and faced financial hardship growing up after her family went bankrupt. They struggled with basic needs and...
Luis
Luis is from Nicaragua. In 2018, his life took a drastic turn. He was studying industrial engineering at the Engineering University of Nicaragua...
Enrique
Enrique is from El Salvador. After finishing high school, he joined a Roman Catholic seminary for four years before seeking a new path in pursuit...
Bintou
Bintou is from a small town in Africa’s Ivory Coast. For girls in her family going to school was unheard of. Her father believed school was designed...
Christele
Christele packed her bags and traveled from Haiti to the United States with the intention of staying for 2 weeks. She came to the U.S. to get away...
Anny
Anny lost her mother to cancer when she was just 13 years old. Growing up with her father and three brothers she learned to be strong, grateful, and...