Student Organization. The Quito Project

A special spotlight feature written by Nick Farrugia and Katie Ortiz-Tenesaca, LACS Administrative Assistants

Nick Farrugia is a microbiology and art & design student at the University of Michigan, class of 2020. He is also the 2018-2019 co-director of outreach and recruitment for the Quito Project.

Katie Ortiz-Tenesaca is a communications and business student at the University of Michigan, class of 2020. She is the 2018-2019 co-director of finance for The Quito Project.

TQP’s education component is a student initiative from the University of Michigan and Universidad de San Francisco de Quito which began in 2014. The Quito Project is currently partnering with Caritas Primavera, a non-profit organization in Cumbaya, Ecuador that works to help the surrounding lower socio-economic communities by providing programs and resources for those in need. Through this partnership, TQP is able to carry out its summer educational program which works to minimize the achievement gap in low income neighborhoods by working with local communities and promoting global collaboration through education. The curriculum is student-developed by our undergraduate tutors with support from mentor faculty members and emphasizes strengthening students’ understanding of core academic subjects in reading, writing, mathematics and the sciences while encouraging creative expression and exploration, elevating the importance of academic performance, and boosting in-class self-confidence.