Frequently Asked Questions

St. James Institute is a Catholic nonprofit that accompanies young adults as they pursue technical or university education and prepare for independent adulthood. Our approach connects study with personal guidance, work and service, character and spiritual formation, and community life.

Our first apostolate is in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia. Casa St. James is our residential community there. Supporters and partners in Bolivia and abroad contribute to this work. See St. James Homes for information about our current home.

We accompany young adults who want to continue their education and may face financial barriers, limited family support or a need for guidance and community. Particular priority is given to young adults leaving residential care or without a stable support network. Each person is assessed individually.

Our Catholic mission brings together human dignity, prayer, service, personal responsibility and care for others. Spiritual formation is part of the wider approach to education and community life. Each person’s conscience and religious background are respected; our team explains participation expectations before a support plan is agreed.

Our programs primarily serve young adults ages 18 to 25. Seventeen-year-olds completing secondary school may be considered for vocational guidance, academic preparation and transition activities. Residential participation is limited to people age 18 or older. The Eligibility Criteria page explains the current requirements.

Assessment considers motivation, educational history, goals and willingness to take responsibility, alongside academic performance. A secondary-school diploma or graduation certificate is needed to begin technical or university studies. Students approaching graduation may contact us about preparation and guidance.

Read the Eligibility Criteria and Eligibility & Application pages, then use the Student Application Form or contact our team for help. A brief inquiry can explain your location, educational goal and the support you hope to explore. An inquiry and a completed application are different stages of the process.

Yes. A family member, educator, care home or another trusted person may make an initial inquiry. The young adult’s own involvement, goals and willingness to participate remain essential. Our team will explain how to share any further information.

For the application stage, our team may request identity and educational documents, academic records, recommendations or other information relevant to the assessment. Follow the application instructions and ask how to provide documents. Please do not send identity documents, medical records or other sensitive records through the general contact form.

The team reviews the application and may request an interview, references or further information. If support is offered, the proposal explains its scope, initial duration and the responsibilities of both St. James and the participant. Meeting the general criteria does not guarantee admission, a scholarship or accommodation.

Initial guidance and submitting an application are free. Depending on the support plan and the student’s circumstances, shared financial responsibilities may be agreed. Participants also contribute to community life through suitable daily responsibilities and service. The team explains any commitments before participation begins.

Depending on individual needs and available resources, support may include vocational guidance, academic preparation, educational assistance, mentoring, career guidance, healthy habits and community life. Residential support may form part of an agreed plan. The team considers what it can realistically provide for each person.

No. The wider community includes young adults who live elsewhere and participate according to their support arrangements. Residential admission is considered separately, based on assessment, suitability, local requirements, available places and resources.

Residents connect their studies with shared meals, household responsibilities, prayer, work and service. Caring for shared spaces, organizing personal resources and developing study routines help them practice skills for independent living. Personal guidance and community relationships support this gradual growth.

Young adults take an active role in their studies, personal growth and agreed support plan. Responsibilities may include attending guidance sessions, developing study habits, respecting community expectations and contributing through suitable work, service or household tasks. The specific commitments are explained before participation begins.

The Donate page links to our current options, including online giving with Zeffy, Zelle, PayPal and checks. Availability, currency, fees and recipient arrangements can differ by method and country. Follow the instructions for the method you choose and verify the recipient before confirming your gift.

Unrestricted gifts support the charitable mission, including educational programs, student support and the reasonable administration and fundraising costs that sustain the work. Campaign descriptions explain particular appeals. Examples of costs or impact illustrate possible uses; they do not guarantee a specific result for each gift.

Use a designation expressly offered by an approved campaign or contact our team before making a gift with a specific restriction or condition. A note on a standard donation does not by itself create an accepted restriction. The Donation Terms explain how designated gifts and changes to campaign needs are handled.

Recurring giving may be available through the donation platform you choose. Check the amount and frequency before authorizing it. To change or cancel future payments, use the processor’s donor-account link or contact our team for help. Canceling future gifts does not automatically refund previous payments.

Acknowledgments and tax receipts are provided as required by applicable law and the arrangements for your giving method. Provide accurate contact details, especially for checks or bank transfers. If you need a receipt, contact the team with the date, amount, method and transaction reference. Tax treatment depends on the recipient, contribution and your circumstances; review the Donation Terms and seek qualified advice for your situation.

Contact our team promptly if a gift was duplicated, entered incorrectly or unauthorized. Include the donation date, amount, method and transaction reference, without full card or bank-account details. Requests are reviewed individually under the Donation Terms and any relevant provider rules. A refund is not guaranteed.

Contact the team before purchasing or delivering items. Explain what you could offer, its condition, quantity and any delivery arrangements. We can consider whether it matches a current need and whether it can be received and used. You can also contribute time, expertise, prayer or a suitable opportunity.

Send a brief introduction with your experience, interests, location and availability. Our team discusses current needs and whether a suitable role is possible. Any involvement is subject to review and the preparation and safeguarding requirements that apply. Contact with young adults is coordinated through St. James; expressing interest does not confirm a placement.

We welcome inquiries from people and organizations in Bolivia and abroad. Depending on current needs, remote professional expertise, introductions, communications support or financial contributions may be useful. The team considers feasibility and agrees the scope and coordination before an activity begins.

Educational institutions can propose scholarships or training; employers can offer paid work or structured internships; care homes can coordinate referrals; and professionals, parishes and community organizations can offer expertise or practical support. Start with one useful contribution and discuss responsibilities, timing and resources with our team.

Describe your organization, the opportunity, entry requirements, location, schedule, costs or compensation, supervision and a contact person. The Offer an Opportunity page helps you begin. St. James reviews suitability and capacity before any arrangement or participant placement is confirmed.

Contact our team to discuss the purpose of your visit and arrange it in advance. Visits and activities involving participants are coordinated through St. James. A contribution or partnership does not provide automatic access to participants or their information. Photographs, interviews and personal stories require prior agreement and appropriate permissions.

Use the Safeguarding & Reporting Concerns page for guidance on raising a concern and requesting a private follow-up. Describe the issue briefly and share only what is needed at that stage. The page explains the available reporting routes and what to do if someone is in immediate danger.

Use the Contact page to reach us by WhatsApp, email or form. A brief introduction and a clear question are enough to begin. Stories & Updates and the Walking with Hope newsletter share developments from the mission. Please keep sensitive records and payment credentials out of general inquiries.