New impact research undertaken
As part of our ongoing commitment to measuring the impact of your support, over the last two years surveys have been conducted amongst our graduates and alumni of the Sisters of Mary schools around the world. This impact research has resulted in exciting metrics and valuable insights that show the difference that you are making with your donations.
Providing an education for the poorest children profoundly changes the lives of their entire families and communities. When children acquire the skills they need to find work and create an independent future, they are able to help their families and communities onto a better life. Our research shows just how many family members are touched and supported by your gifts.
Research Results
We know that employment rates for our graduates are higher than the national average in each country but we now know specific metrics on employment. That 67% of the children that leave school in the Philippines have job offers before they leave school or within 3 months of leaving.
We can now also see that 70% of our survey sample of Philippine graduates go on to support their at least one member of their extended family when they leave school and find work. This is a confirmation of our anecdotal understanding.
Our Impact data
In 2023 we were delighted to receive more data and analyse further results from our alumni surveys amongst graduates of the schools in the Philippines, Guatemala, Mexico, Honduras and Brazil.
This research provides valuable insights on the outcomes of our work and the wider impact of the Sisters’ mission. As last year, we focused on measuring the employment of the children as a key priority of our activity. We also surveyed how many family members our graduates have been able to support since leaving school.
Like last year, the largest graduate data set was received from alumni of the Philippine schools where there are the highest number of graduates but in 2023 we also received large data sets for Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico and so those results are also shown here.
How long did it take you to find your first job after graduating from school? |
| More than a year 11% |
| 6 months to one year 10% |
| 3-6 months 12% |
| Less than 3 months 67% |
Philippines
89% of the graduates in the Philippines who responded on this revealed that they were fully employed by 12 months after leaving school. The majority of these young graduates, 67%, were employed less than 3 months after leaving the schools and many had job offers prior to leaving. In Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and Brazil similar trends are seen.
How long did it take you to find your first job after graduating from school? |
| More than a year 16% |
| 6 months to one year 13% |
| 3-6 months 20% |
| Less than 3 months 51% |
Guatemala
In Guatemala 84% of respondents were in employment within a year and 51% of these within three months.
How long did it take you to find your first job after graduating from school? |
| More than a year 14% |
| 6 months to one year 14% |
| 3-6 months 26% |
| Less than 3 months 46% |
Honduras
In Honduras 86% of the graduates were employed within a year with 46% taking less than three months to secure a stable job.
How long did it take you to find your first job after graduating from school? |
| More than a year 12% |
| 6 months to one year 14% |
| 3-6 months 20% |
| Less than 3 months 54% |
Mexico
In Mexico, 88% of the children who graduated were in work within 12 months, 54% within three months.
How many members of your non-immediate family do you help financially?
When our children graduate from school able to find stable employment they are active in supporting their extended families. This lifts many generations out of poverty and multiplies the impact of your support many times over.
| None 30% |
| One 13% |
| Two 20% |
| Three 13% |
| Four 7% |
| Five 5% |
| Five+ 12% |
Philippines
70% of these employed Philippine graduates are helping at least one member of their extended family (ie not their spouse or children) with living costs, education, access to healthcare and housing being the highest priorities for help needed within the families. 12% are helping more than five members. This data reinforces the case study evidence we gather from in person interviews with graduates.
| None 32% |
| One 25% |
| Two 25% |
| Three 9% |
| Four 4% |
| Five 2% |
| Five+ 2% |
Mexico
68% of those employed in Mexico are helping at least one member of their extended family with living costs, housing and education the key areas of support.
Gathering this data to measure our impact ensures that we continue to move in the right direction. It ensures that the outcome of educating a child is an improvement in the lives of families and communities. When children have the skills necessary for employment and are able to secure stable jobs it means their families can afford proper housing, access to nutritious food, healthcare, education and a life which is profoundly changed for the better – permanently.
Donation Impact Calculator
Your donations help us to provide education for the world’s poorest children. They help us to fund school places and the everyday care needed for boys and girls who are without hope. See the difference your monthly or single gift can make to the lives of the children in our care: