The University added to its list of approximately 400 student organizations one that will work to further encourage diversity on Grounds.
"Towards a Better Latin America" is a service organization that seeks to aid Latin American schools and hospitals in their improvement and development.
Fourth-year Commerce student Carolina Cabezas, one of the organization's founders and its current president, said the first school to which the organization will provide supplies and financial support is a middle school called La Puenta in El Salvador.
Two faculty members conduct classes at the school, which operates two classrooms and serves 176 students, most of whom are malnourished, Cabezas said.
"Poverty, lack of education and health services are major social problems throughout Latin America, and it's something that people need to take social responsibility for and change," Cabezas said.
The organization hopes to address many of La Puenta's problems, as well as expand their efforts to different countries throughout Latin America.
"We are not planning to make huge changes, but we want to make a difference by working on specific needs," Cabezas added.
Cabezas said the diversity of the Latin American students in the organization helps them reach out to different countries.
"The people who come directly from Latin America have personally experienced this reality," Cabezas said.
"Towards a Better Latin America," includes University students from most Latin American countries.
The organization's members express a strong interest in social issues in Latin America, Cabezas said.
Cabezas also said the University's semester vacations are opportunities for its international student members to see which local schools are most desperate and how the organization can alleviate any financial troubles.
The founders, who include Cabezas, third-year College student Raquel Orellana, fourth-year Commerce student Pilar Arellano and fourth-year College student Alejandra Mantilla, say they wanted to bring Latinos together, along with individuals interested in Latin American issues and culture.
A unique feature of "Towards a Better Latin America," is its exclusively service nature, Asst. Dean of Students Pablo Davis said.
"What makes this organization distinguished is that it has service for its entire mission," Davis said.
Davis believes the organization is an extension of already established sentiments of University students.
"This organization is representative of a further flowering of something that has already been happening at the University," Davis said.
Expressing the same confidence, Cabezas said she hopes this upcoming year will "attract people who want to work, to make this happen and to make a difference in the school we plan to help this semester."
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