Cardano for Latinamerican Students

[GENERAL] Summarize your solution to the problem.

Conectamos is an program providing academic assistance to underrepresented Latin American students by matching them with exceptional US volunteer tutors through virtual sessions.

[GENERAL] Summarize your relevant experience.

I spent the past 3 years as an ambassador for OneProsper International, a nonprofit working to end female illiteracy rates in India. I virtually teach English to girls living in the brutal Thar desert, who typically spend 6 hours a day toiling to collect water for their families.

[IMPACT] Please describe your proposed solution.

From casual conversations, homework review, and technological exposure, individuals on both ends of the program will receive an invaluable opportunity to learn and grow from one another. The Conectamos exchange process occurs through 30-45 minute Zoom sessions. These meetings are held once a week between the Latin American student and their respective US buddy.

[IMPACT] Please describe how your proposed solution will address the Challenge that you have submitted it in.

The program specifically targets the Chaco region (in northern Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay) and the shantytowns of Villa 21-24 of Buenos Aires. Due to immense poverty and geographical isolation, local children to these regions lack the privilege of prioritizing their education or expanding their technological awareness. Through the Conectamos program, students are introduced to diverse educational tools and supplies and receive exposure to the innovations that will help them integrate with the ever-developing technological world that they are marginalized from.

[IMPACT] What are the main risks that could prevent you from delivering the project successfully and please explain how you will mitigate each risk?

A risk in my project could be lacking tutor registration to match the Latin American student demand. However, as a UCLA Freshman, I have the ability of recruiting countless tutors from student-led clubs and organizations that match the Conectamos program goals to mitigate the potential problem.

Another risk is that language barriers between American and Latin American individuals could hinder the academic assistance provided by tutoring session. To resolve this problem, I will acquire students with proficient Spanish knowledge or Latin American backgrounds.

[FEASIBILITY] Please provide a detailed plan, including timeline and key milestones for delivering your proposal.

Month 1:

• website graphic design
• website content development
• UCLA student recruiting
• Technology setup in LatinAmerican schools

Month 2:

• Website launch
• Tutoring session weekly schedule plan
• Student and tutor match
• Trial tutoring sessions
• Feedback and adjustments
• Tutoring sessions begin

[FEASIBILITY] Please provide a detailed budget breakdown.

$1,500 - website design for student registration

$1,000 - Latin American school technology setup

$1,000 - full stack developer for one month

$1,000 - project director

$500 - hosting domain registration, software licensing

[FEASIBILITY] Please provide details of the people who will work on the project.

Marcelo Quirici: volunteer coordinator for the student Chaco region

[FEASIBILITY] If you are funded, will you return to Catalyst in a later round for further funding? Please explain why / why not.

Yes. Once the initial setup of the program is complete, further funding will be needed to broaden the program to more schools and provide further technological supplying to students.

[FEASIBILITY] Are you or any member of your team working on any other proposals in this Fund9?

[FEASIBILITY] Are you or your team working on any other proposals from previous Funds?

[AUDITABILITY] Please describe what you will measure to track your project's progress, and how will you measure these?

We will measure the amount of tutor registrations, website page views, latinamerican students reached, and total collective tutoring hours.

[AUDITABILITY] What does success for this project look like?

Success for this project is a consistent and effective one-on-one sessions between Latin American students and their US tutor. Beyond student academic advancement, Conectamos seeks to establish a unique community exposing individuals to others from vastly different environments and cultures, expanding global awareness on both ends of the exchange.

[AUDITABILITY] Please provide information on whether this proposal is a continuation of a previously funded project in Catalyst or an entirely new one.

No it is not.