Roots of Hope (Raíces de Esperanza)
Roots of Hope, or "Raíces de Esperanza", is a non-profit and non-partisan service organization, founded in 2003 with the goal of empowering Cuban youth to be the authors of their own future. Cuba is the only remaining Latin American country that does not allow any form of anti-government opposition and dissent is punishable by loss of a job, beatings and/or imprisonment. It offers extremely limited resources and technology for its people. It is the last country in the western hemisphere to obtain fiber optic cables for internet and use of internet  at home is illegal. Cell phone usage became legal in 2008, but they are still cost prohibitive in a country where the average salary is $20 a month. Business has recently been permitted, but not without high taxes and lack of business education. Roots of Hope maintains its goal to empowering Cuban youth through programs and events that connect them with each other and with youth around the world. It is a network of more than 4,000 high school students, college students and young professionals across the U.S. and abroad, with chapters in major cities such as New York , Miami, Washington D.C. and Madrid. History. Roots of Hope was founded in 2003 by a group of college students including Tony Jimenez, L. Felice Gorordo, Diane Cabrera, Joanna Gonzales Burgos and others. They began with an interest in Cuba, an interest in getting to know their roots, their counterparts on the island, and their history. It started with a conference between Georgetown and Harvard's Cuban-American student groups entitled Roots of Hope. Since then, it has grown into a movement of young people from all over the world, working to help their counterparts on the island by providing resources , information, and solidarity. 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2003 Leadership. The network and its programs are managed mostly by an international team of volunteers and an Executive Director. Interns from high school and Fellows from college work on specific projects and gain valuable experience in their areas of interest during the summer.