The Paulo Freire University (UPF), based in Costa Rica, offers scholarships for Nicaraguan exiles who are interested in studying a career in social work in the neighboring country to the south. The house of studies will cover 100 percent of the cost of the studies for those selected.
This is the second call —the first was in February 2022— that UPF, through its Nicaraguan Center for Open Education and Training (CENIEF) in conjunction with the Human Rights Observatory of the Nicaraguan Association for a Better Future, announce the fellowship program (PROCES).
Related news: Illegalized Paulo Freire University condemns that Ortega has “liquidated” university autonomy
Applicants must present their high school diploma, migratory status of Nicaraguan resident, refugee or asylum seeker, condition of social vulnerability and availability of online night studies during the week.
They must also present two passport-size photos, a copy of a Nicaraguan identity document and another of a Costa Rican identity document; a copy of the birth certificate.
Registration is open from this Monday, June 27, to Friday, July 1. The interviews will be held from 10 a.m. to 12 noon, at the Paulo Freire University liaison office, located in the “El Pueblo” Shopping Center, Calle Blancos, module 31, in San José, Costa Rica. .
Jhoswel Antonio Martínez, director of the Human Rights Observatory of the Nicaraguan Association for a Better Future, told Article 66 that the objective is to further expand the space so that other Nicaraguans who were expelled from a state university in Nicaragua for political reasons can continue their professional studies.
UPF can work in Costa Rica
“Once they have completed their studies, those who benefit from the scholarships will receive their degrees completely free of charge,” explained Martínez. In addition, he informed that the modality will be mixed, which means that it will be virtual and face-to-face.
Regarding the legality of the university in Costa Rica, the human rights defender argued that despite the fact that the Ortega dictatorship canceled the legal personality of UPF, this house of studies is registered at its headquarters in Florida, United States; and in Costa Rica there is another called the Nicaraguan Center for Open Education and Training, so they can work in the neighboring country to the south.
Related news: University Rector Paulo Freire decides to go into exile in Costa Rica to “protect his life”
«The university is working on a process of homologation of class titles with the University of San Jose in Costa Rica; it will offer classes in conjunction with UPF to some students from different careers so that their degrees are valid here in Costa Rica », he added.
It should be noted that there are between 15 and 20 scholarships for the social work degree, however “if there is a lot of demand, we will try to talk to expand the space to more students,” concluded Martínez.
UPF outlawed by Ortega
The National Assembly at the service of the dictatorial couple resolved to cancel the legal personality of the university accusing it of violating the Law against Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism.
Regarding its financial statements, the University mentioned that they have never received any comments or observations on its financial statements for the years 2017, 2018 and 2019 from the Department of Registration of Associations of the Ministry of the Interior.
After the onslaught of the dictatorship, the rector of UPF, Adrian Meza, he was forced into exile in Costa Rica. From that country he has condemned the aggressions of the Ortega dictatorship and has supported university students.
