The UCA Tierra y Agua is an association of 9 cooperatives near Granada that was formed in 1984 and comprises 150 families.  

Casa has worked with UCA Tierra y Agua in the past through the delegation program. In 2007, a group from Robert F. Hall high school spent 10 days in Aguas Agrias, one of the cooperatives in the association that is developing their community rural tourism program.  

The UCA knows that the future of their community lies with their youth. Since 2000, they have provided financial aid for youth in the community to study high school or university. Although education is now free, none of the cooperatives have high schools or post-secondary schools nearby, so costs of transportation to and from school along with school material are significant, and often keep young people in rural areas from pursuing their studies. 

In the first year, they were able to support 22 students, and this number has increased steadily up to 90 students in 2007.  

The project continues to grow. It not only continues to provide financial aid but also seeks to strengthen the self-organization of the youth of the cooperatives, and develop their knowledge of the UCA so they can become active members of the cooperative.  

Therefore, the current project, for the 2009 school year, has the following components.

• Financial aid fund to support 75 high school students and 12 university students.
• Visits for interested high school students to post-secondary institutions.
• Establishment of libraries in 2 of the cooperatives.
• 6 yearly meetings of youth in the cooperatives to exchange ideas and coordinate activities.
• A youth celebration of the anniversary of the UCA.
• Cultural and recreational activities for youth from all 9 cooperatives.

This year, the youth of the UCA have elected a youth council, with one representative from each cooperative. The council, along with the directive of the UCA, will oversee the project.  

The financial aid is open to any youth in the cooperatives who want to continue studying post primary school. It does not cover all the expenses of studying in school, but is meant to supplement what the families are able to put towards their children’s education. Every student who receives the financial aid must commit to participating in at least one of the activities organized by the youth council: upkeep of the library, inter-cooperative meetings about issues, sports events, visits to other cooperatives, videoforums or cultural events.  

The total project costs are more than U$10, 000.  The Casa Canadiense, through the Casa Project Fund, will be contributing $3,900 for 2009 primarily for financial aid for 75 highschool students.