Since then, Christina has been joined by a number of volunteers with similar interests. Every year, Acceso's directing officers work with a selection committee from each country to select recipients based on the criteria of academic achievement, community involvement and financial need. The scholarships and bursaries help to cover the cost of tuition, supplies, transportation and accommodation. Annual progress reports are filed for each student recipient to ensure accountability. Besides its continued work in the Dominican Republic, Acceso is also assisting five youths from the rural area of Chincha Alta in Peru and is developing a new scholarship project for young indigenous women in Guatemala.
Plans are underway to implement similar projects in Mexico, Bolivia, Colombia and Haiti.
Through these initiatives, Christina hopes to increase social, economic, cultural and gender equality for the marginalized youth of the Americas, and ensure that higher education is equally accessible to all on the basis of merit, consistent with Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It provides the means through which young people can gain greater control over their lives and maintain hope for a brighter future for themselves, their families and their local communities. For more info on Acceso, please visit their Web site . CASA Latino-Americaine Latin Americans immigrating to the Quebec City region are really rather lucky. Founded as a non-profit, charitable organization in 1985, CASA serves as a focal point and umbrella group for numerous smaller Latin American associations.