One Christmas, I decided to volunteer with my friend. 

She’d invited me to CPLC Ángeles del Barrio to distribute Christmas gifts to children in the community. 

Little did I know, I’d receive the biggest gift of all. 

*** 
My name is Sefa Siale, and I grew up in a pretty big family—I have five siblings! 

Like other immigrants, my parents came to the US from the islands of Tonga in search of a better future. 

Their expectations were high, but thankfully, I loved science and technology. 

And I was determined to go to college no matter what. 

During high school, I had a part-time job, but I worried how I’d ever pay tuition on minimum wage. 

You can imagine my relief when I met Alicia at Ángeles del Barrio and she told me, “I know you’re a high school senior, about to graduate. We offer scholarships.” 

I applied, but didn’t want to get my hopes up. 

Months later, when I received the letter that I was getting the scholarship, I couldn’t believe it. 

*** 

The CPLC Scholarship Program changed my life. 

Finances were no longer a burden. I found great mentors in the scholarship coordinators and fellow CPLC Scholars. And after I was laid off from an internship during COVID, CPLC offered me my first full-time job. 

At CPLC, my job was to order laptops for new employees and negotiate the best deals for equipment we need. 

But my favorite project was the ACP Digital Inclusion Program. 

Across the nation, there is still a digital divide for children from low-income families—and it was especially difficult during the pandemic. When schools went remote, many children lacked the technology needed to continue attending classes.  

One of the initiatives I worked on was “Help Our Kids Connect”. We gave children free laptops and internet connection for free or at a reduced price. This way, children who would have otherwise not had access to education could keep going to school online and doing their homework during the COVID lockdowns. 

*** 

One day, my coworkers and I were volunteering in New Mexico at a fall festival. We were at a table among other vendors, enrolling families in the program. I felt so happy. 

I thought, I’m part of this huge story. 

COVID was difficult for all of us. But I can’t imagine my parents, who both worked full-time, trying to raise six children during a pandemic. That would have been five laptops and internet—my parents would never have been able to do that. 

I’m grateful for the opportunities I was given. But the biggest gift is knowing I’m giving back. 

For more information about the CPLC Scholarship Program and how you can support it, please visit https://cplc.org/education/scholarships.php. Donations to CPLC of up to $495 for individuals or $987 for couples filing jointly are eligible for the Arizona Qualifying Charitable Organization (QCO) Tax Credit. Learn more at https://cplc.org/donate/donate.php. 

Sincerely,