 magine a world where all children can afford to go beyond
elementary school. For many motivated students in Argentina,
where 40% of the population lives below the poverty line, this
possibility is fraught with challenges. Since transportation, uniforms,
and books are not funded by the government, education can be
cost-prohibitive. Furthermore, for many economically-disadvantaged
children, there is tremendous pressure to enter the workforce to
help their families financially.
Thanks to ICF’s Fund for the Education and Social Development of
Argentina and the support of Fundación Tarpuy, deserving students
from middle school through graduate school in Córdoba, Argentina
have been able to receive scholarships to continue their studies.
Since 2002, Fundación Tarpuy has received a total of $650,000
from ICF over the past three years to help students stay in school.
The mission of Fundación Tarpuy is to promote the scientific,
technological, cultural, and social development, which it undertakes
through its two scholarship programs: ESCALAR (Climbing) and
PROCOM (Research Program in Digital Communications).
ESCALAR offers scholarships, tutoring, and English classes to 16
students entering middle school that are economically
disadvantaged. PROCOM provides ten annual research fellowships
for Ph.D candidates working on technological developments in
communications at the University of Córdoba.
When ICF Board Member, Dr. Irma Gigli visited Fundación Tarpuy,
she noted that “PROCOM is clearly the shining star of all the
Fundación Tarpuy programs.” University students are selected to
enter this program to put special emphasis on communications
technology research. Published papers in international scientific
magazines, and presentations at international conferences are
only some of the PROCOM students’ results; they also serve as
role models for the middle school students participating in the
ESCALAR program. This lively group meets weekly at Fundación
Tarpuy’s headquarters.
ICF has been able to help Fundación Tarpuy advance its
programmatic effectiveness and transparency, especially related to
the scholarship programs. One anonymous donor stated, “Beyond
just transferring funds internationally, ICF has helped to advise and
improve the programs I am supporting in Argentina. My philanthropy
would have been impossible without the support of ICF.” |
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