Help vulnerable Argentine students finish college

Meet Gladys

Gladys is the youngest of a large family. She grew up in Villa 21-24 a low income neighborhood in Barracas, Buenos Aires. Her mother didn’t finish primary school, and the family has no contact with their father.

From an early age, Gladys knew she wanted a profession that would allow her to care for others. With that conviction, quiet determination, and the support of the Integrar Scholarship, she completed an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) in 2018. She soon found a good job, but she wanted more. Driven by her desire to learn, she added new qualifications and specialization courses. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing, then trained as a Surgical Instrument Specialist. Her next goal is a Master of Education. 

Today, Gladys is proud to work as a surgical nurse at the prestigious Clínica y Maternidad Suizo-Argentina, where she also leads her shift and supervises her team. She’s grateful for the stability and independence her work has given her. Before turning 30, she was able to move out of her family home, and together with her siblings, she now supports their mother, who is no longer able to work.

For Gladys, the scholarship was “an incentive to get started.” What she values most, she says, is “knowing that someone is supporting and accompanying you every step of the way.” She adds: “Beyond the financial support, having a mentor really made the difference.”

Three years ago, Gladys joined the Integrar volunteer team as a mentor to a nursing student. 

Health careers demand both skill and vocation.

Transforming talent and vocation into genuine opportunities for growth and development at both the individual and social levels has been Integrar´s objective since the very beginning. In a country and a world that is aging, professions related to the health sector offer a clear path to employment and a way to contribute directly to collective well-being. Through continuous training and specialization, they create lasting opportunities for professional and personal growth.

Through the University Scholarship Program, 51 young people from low-income backgrounds have transformed their vocation into a long-term life project. Today, eighteen of them are studying, and thirty-three have already graduated. Most have chosen an associate degree with strong employment opportunities, such as Nursing, Surgical Instrumentation, Radiology, or Physical Therapy, while nearly 40% are pursuing longer degrees like Medicine, Obstetrics, Nutrition, or Dentistry. In line with global trends, 88% of our scholarship holders in this area are women. 

Each graduate not only secures a stable career but also multiplies their impact, improving the quality of life for hundreds of people throughout their professional path.

Thanks to your support, the future is in good hands.