Project FE is directed by three college students from Boulder, Colorado. In the summer of 2007, we participated in a five-week service delegation to Boulder's sister city, Jalapa, Nicaragua. This trip exposed us to the many economic challenges faced by the residents of the Jalapa Valley. We met children who could not attend school simply because they didn't own basic necessities like a notebook or a pair of shoes. Through the scholarship program, we hope to continue our relationship with the community we have grown close to and help students achieve their educational goals.

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Helen Rhea Vernier

Helen took up the torch of Project FE in 2007. Her love of Jalapa and its people kept her engaged in the program and dedicated to serving these worthy students. Project FE and Helen's efforts in Jalapa reflect her lifelong goal of effecting change throughout the world by promoting sustainable communities and seeking social justice.

Sofia Laguna

Sofia attends the University of Colorado at Boulder studying English as a part of the class of 2013. Sofia is also a member of INVST, a CU program that develops engaged citizens who work for the benefit of humanity and the environment. Sofia has high aspirations for Project FE and looks forward to making a difference in communities all over the world.

Tasia Poinsatte

Since the 2007 youth delegation, Tasia has continued to support the people of Jalapa by serving as a board member for the Friendship City Projects. She also interns on the communications team of TechnoServe, a nonprofit that supports entrepreneurs and small businesses in the developing world. In the future, she hopes to work in international development with an emphasis on environmental sustainability.

Karla Pozo

Karla acts as the cornerstone of Project FE. As our in-country administrator, she handles funds, facilitates student service opportunities and links Jalapa to the United States. In 2005, she helped launch the Friendship City Project’s Family Gardens project to provide nutritious food to rural Jalapans. Karla also volunteers for the Jalapa Women’s Foundation, which promotes access to reproductive health services. Karla, a mother of two, attends university courses in accounting, applied math and agriculture.