About: Roots of Hope (Raíces de Esperanza)

Roots of Hope, or Raíces de Esperanza, is a non-profit and non-partisan service organization, founded in 2003 with the goal of empowering Cuban youth to be the authors of their own future. Cuba is the only remaining Latin American country that does not allow any form of anti-government opposition and dissent is punishable by loss of a job, beatings and/or imprisonment. It offers extremely limited resources and technology for its people. It is the last country in the western hemisphere to obtain fiber optic cables for internet and use of internet at home is illegal. Cell phone usage became legal in 2008, but they are still cost prohibitive in a country where the average salary is $20 a month. Business has recently been permitted, but not without high taxes and lack of business education.