Puerto Rican Youth from Despair to Hope

At PECES, we believe that transformation doesn’t end at graduation—it begins there. As part of our ongoing commitment to the success of our students, we conducted a follow-up study with graduates from the Alternative High School PECES, Classes of 2024 and 2025, to understand their current academic and professional status.

This research was carried out through direct phone calls and in-person visits to students and families, gathering first-hand data about the post-graduation journey of our youth. The findings are both encouraging and inspiring, offering solid evidence that our Alternative Education Model continues to foster pathways toward stability, purpose, and growth.

Who We Reached

• A total of 70 graduates participated in the study, representing 59% of all graduates from both classes.
• Contact was established with 57% of the Class of 2024 and 61% of the Class of 2025.
• The data reflects information collected up to August 29, 2025.

What We Discovered

• 62% of graduates are currently studying, and 61% are working.
• A significant 72% of those studying are enrolled in technical or vocational programs, while 29% are pursuing associate or bachelor’s degrees at universities.
• Overall, 64% of graduates chose technical colleges, and 36% are enrolled in universities, showing an exciting increase in the pursuit of higher education compared to previous years.
• Among those employed, 58% work in the commerce sector, while 42% are employed in construction and service industries.

Most Popular Career Choices

1. Mechanics, Welding, and Electrical Trades – 30%
2. Cosmetology and Barbering – 16%
3. Science and Technology Fields – 12%

Most Selected Institutions

• Industrial Technical College
• Inter-American University of Puerto Rico (Fajardo Campus)
• University of Puerto Rico at Humacao (UPRH)
• Mech Tech College
• AutoMeca Technical College

Some graduates are still exploring their next steps. While a few have temporarily paused their studies or job searches due to family or financial challenges, most express a clear desire to continue their education or join the workforce in the near future.

A Model That Works

What these numbers reveal is more than statistics, they tell a story of resilience and transformation. Our alternative education model is helping young people who once felt disconnected from traditional systems to now find themselves studying, working, and planning their futures with confidence.

The growing number of students pursuing university degrees is particularly significant. It shows how the PECES approach is rooted in mentorship, compassion, and life-skills training, empowers youth to dream beyond limitations and believe in long-term goals.

Why Your Support Matters

Every donation through this project makes our services, activities, research and follow-ups like this possible. It allows PECES to not only educate but also accompany our youth beyond graduation, ensuring they have the tools and guidance to stay on their path toward a dignified and productive life.

Your continued support means more young Puerto Ricans moving from despair to hope, and from hope to success.

With gratitude,
The PECES, Inc. Team

Dear friends and supporters of the Puerto Rican Youth from Despair to Hope project,

Thanks to your generous support, we are thrilled to share a truly transformative experience recently lived by six young women—both current students and alumni—of our PECES Alternative High School.

These young women participated in a special modeling workshop led by an extraordinary mentor: a fellow Puerto Rican youth who has walked the runways of prestigious fashion shows, including New York Fashion Week. Her story of perseverance, resilience, and success deeply resonated with our students, who saw in her not just a teacher, but a reflection of what they, too, can become.

Throughout the workshop, the participants learned the practical steps of high fashion modeling like posture, runway presence, and walking technique, but they also gained something far more valuable: self-confidence, discipline, and a powerful sense of teamwork. The experience culminated in a simulated runway show, where each of them shone brightly, showcasing their progress and, more importantly, discovering new dimensions of their dreams.

For many of these young women, modeling had always felt like a distant dream… until now. This workshop was more than just a learning opportunity—it was an open door to non-traditional career paths that, while often underexplored in their communities, offer meaningful possibilities for self-expression, personal growth, and a brighter future. Because when a young woman begins to imagine herself as the canvas for a fashion designer, she also begins to imagine herself as the author of her own story.

And this is just the beginning. We are proud to share that three of these young women will be given the opportunity to take part in their first professional high fashion runway show this November, during our benefit event “Anticipating Christmas with Purpose”, under the artistic direction of renowned Puerto Rican designer David Antonio. This is more than just a model walk—it's a leap into a world of new opportunities, the beginning of recognition, and the realization of dreams once thought unreachable.

None of this would be possible without you. Every donation, every word of encouragement, fuels real-life transformations like this one. You are not just funding these opportunites, you are nurturing self-esteem, uncovering talents, and transforming lives.

We remain deeply committed to creating pathways that empower Puerto Rican youth, especially those who face the greatest barriers and inequities. With your continued support, more young people like these six participants will keep writing new stories, stories of hope, purpose, and fulfilled dreams.

With deep gratitude,
The PECES, Inc. Team