St. James Institute is an educational and charitable initiative that seeks to walk alongside young people as they pursue higher education, grow in character, and prepare for lives of dignity, responsibility, and purpose.
As part of our wider commitment to service, the Servants of God of St. Augustine support the mission of St. James Institute and its work of accompanying young people who need educational opportunities, guidance, stability, and a caring community.
The work of St. James is currently centered in Bolivia, where it collaborates with the Church, residential care homes, educational institutions, community organizations, businesses, and individuals who share a concern for the formation and future of young people.
Many young people have the desire and ability to continue their education but face barriers that make that path difficult.
Some come from residential care homes or have grown up without stable family support. Others face significant financial hardship or lack the guidance, encouragement, and relationships that can help them successfully transition into adulthood.
St. James was created in response to this reality.
Its purpose is not simply to provide financial assistance. The goal is to accompany young people in a more complete way — helping them pursue education while also developing the habits, relationships, skills, and character needed to build an independent and purposeful life.
St. James primarily supports young people who are committed to their education and would benefit from additional guidance, opportunity, and community.
This may include young people:
Each young person has a different story. Support is therefore adapted according to individual needs, circumstances, and available resources.
St. James seeks to accompany young people beyond academic enrollment alone.
Its model brings together several areas of support that contribute to long-term growth.
St. James helps young people identify and pursue technical or university studies and connects eligible students with scholarship and educational opportunities.
Students receive help developing foundational knowledge, study habits, organization, and the skills needed to enter and succeed in higher education.
Formation includes values, responsibility, healthy habits, personal discipline, and the everyday skills necessary for adult life.
Young people are encouraged to gain experience through employment, internships, volunteering, and service opportunities that help them develop professional and interpersonal skills.
Trusted adults accompany students as they make decisions, set goals, face difficulties, and take greater responsibility for their future.
When needed and when resources permit, St. James seeks to provide safe, family-like environments where students can study, share responsibilities, and grow within a supportive community.
An important part of the mission is St. James House
The first St. James House is located in Plan 3000 in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia. It serves as a place where young people can find a supportive environment for study, formation, shared responsibilities, prayer, work, and service.
The vision is for St. James Houses to become local centers of accompaniment where young people receive both practical support and the relationships necessary to prepare for independent adult life.
The philosophy behind St. James is simple: education is most transformative when it is accompanied by formation.
A degree can open doors, but young people also need character, practical skills, healthy relationships, responsibility, and a sense of purpose.
For this reason, St. James seeks to form the whole person.
Its work brings together:
The goal is to help young people not only complete their studies, but also become adults capable of contributing positively to their families and communities.
St. James cannot carry out this mission alone.
Its work depends on collaboration with residential care homes, universities and technical institutes, faith communities, businesses, healthcare professionals, volunteers, mentors, donors, and other partners.
These relationships help create opportunities that no single organization could provide by itself.
Partnerships may include scholarships, internships, employment opportunities, mentoring, professional services, educational resources, donations, and volunteer support.
There are many ways to become part of the mission of St. James.
You may be able to help by:
Even a relatively small opportunity can become an important step in a young person’s journey toward independence and a better future.
St. James Institute maintains its own website with more detailed information about its programs, students, partnerships, ways to help, and current updates.
We invite you to learn more about this mission and the young people it seeks to accompany.
Education opens opportunities. Community helps young people learn how to use them with dignity and purpose.
