Helps low-income youth in their university careers

In 2026, 10 young women have joined Acceder Estudiando, taking a key step toward becoming the first generation in their families to attend university.

These new scholars have begun pursuing degrees in a wide range of fields, including Law, International Relations, Industrial Engineering, Data Science, Occupational Health and Safety, Communication, Systems, Biochemistry and Economics. While each of them has chosen a different path, they all share a common challenge: navigating university without having close role models who have experienced it before.

For this reason, in addition to receiving a financial scholarship, each student is paired from the very beginning with a volunteer mentor—professionals with academic backgrounds related to their fields of study—who will support them throughout their journey. This relationship is a cornerstone of the program, providing not only academic guidance but also orientation, motivation, and confidence during key moments.

In addition, the scholars participate in in-person activities focused on both academic development and relationship-building. These spaces help them strengthen study skills, organization, and resilience, while also fostering a sense of community among peers who are going through similar experiences.

Whenever needed, they also receive one-on-one tutoring support to reinforce specific subjects before midterms or final exams, ensuring they can face academic challenges with stronger tools.

Supporting these 10 young women at the beginning of their university journey means investing in long-term educational success and expanding opportunities—not only for them, but also for their families and communities.

Thank you for being part of this journey.

In this final quarter of the year, we successfully completed a fundamental component of the Acceder Estudiando Program: the University Life Orientation process (OVU). This pathway was designed to support young women joining the program at one of the most challenging moments in their journeys: the start of university.

For all of them, being the first generation to attend university means navigating an unfamiliar system and making decisions that affect not only their own future, but also that of their families. In response to this challenge, OVU was conceived as a comprehensive support space that combines information, practical tools, and the building of a support network among peers and professionals.

Over the course of six sessions—five of them in person—we supported 16 young women through group workshops and individual meetings. We worked on self-awareness, vocational guidance, understanding the university system, academic pathway planning, and strengthening socio-emotional skills and self-confidence.

As a result of this process, the young women began educational projects across diverse, high-impact degree programs, including a Bachelor’s degree in Data Science, Public Accounting, Industrial Engineering, Law, International Relations, Biochemistry, Economics, and Occupational Health and Safety—reflecting the transformative potential of their educational journeys.

A key moment was the Professionals Panel, where women who had already graduated shared their experiences of studying and entering the workforce, combining a group space with 1:1 exchange opportunities. This session enabled the young women to address questions, connect with real role models, and strengthen their motivation to pursue their university path with greater enthusiasm and determination.

By the end of OVU, we observed greater clarity in academic decision-making, stronger support networks, and more realistic and sustainable educational goals. The process serves as a bridge for access and retention, reducing inequalities and supporting young women in turning the desire to study into an achievable plan.