We are three gap year students, all heading to selective US universities next September (Harvard & Georgetown). We have decided to participate in a team of 8 people with Panfilo (Uberto’s father) in this year’s ARC sailing race. The regatta begins in the Canary Islands and finishes in St Lucia, (lasting 15-18 days). We would like to raise funds from this great challenge for Lima Aspirations, an educational initiative we have launched this year.

What is Lima Aspirations?

As three young students with successful US applications, we strongly believe that our knowledge of this university system is the way we can give back the most. For this reason, we wanted to create an opportunity for 20 highly talented and driven students in Lima to apply to the US. We will be targeting students who would not have the privileges or means to consider education in the US. Today with financial aid for international applicants becoming a seriously exciting reality, we think there is no better time to encourage and prepare students to secure some of these life-changing tickets.

The program

In June of 2019, the three of us will be joined by 4 other friends (including Princeton, UChicago and NYU undergraduates) to run a 5-week intensive course for 3-4 hours after school for our selected group of applicants. In this time, we aim to give them the resources and knowledge necessary to prepare for the admission tests. We also will be very focused on best representing their individual stories in the crucial college essays. Although the core body of the effort will be June, our team will, above all, be a constant support and point of reference for these students until November, when they eventually apply.

Our First Trip

Two members of us (Uberto & Max) went to Lima earlier this month. We met with 5 different schools and presented our ideas to their principals. The reaction was very positive. We were also introduced to around 50-60 students put forward by these schools. The sheer enthusiasm and diversity of their talents was truly inspiring. We are currently in the process of carefully selecting 20 of these students to begin the testing process. When we return in June, we will be ready to bring them through the essays and start preparing their application. It was a truly enriching experience and a very reassuring first step!

How we will use the funds raised?

1. Application Fees

2. Admission Test Fees

3. Shared Classroom Space

4. Necessary Technology & Equipment to work with

5. SAT and ACT preparation resources

6. Transport of students

7. Any other activities or courses we feel would boost the student’s applications outside of our program

We will of course provide all donors with a clear and exact statement of how the funds were used. All outstanding funds will be used for extra-curricular activities that could further supplement their application such as English courses and pre-university camps. The rest will be re-invested in next year’s program.

Concluding thoughts

If even a few of these talented students get accepted, we know we will have changed the landscape of their lives and, perhaps most importantly, affected the horizons and attitude of the people who surround them. We also are keen to stress that this is an initiative that we will hope to grow and follow in the future!

Our great thanks to all who choose to be involved

Uberto, Max and Cosmo.