Many Peruvians have been through the Harvard cloisters since its creation about 400 years ago. However, there had never been an organization that integrated the Peruvian community. This was what led a group of young compatriots to create the Harvard University Association of Peruvian Students (HAPS) by the end of 2015.
The organization has nine Universidad del Pacífico graduates: Joaquin Rey (2009), Desiree Quinteros (2010), Katia Samanamud (2010), Denisse Laos (2011), Jimena Romero (2010), Edgardo Sara (2004), Alonso Guzman (2010), Nicole Eckfeldt (2011) and Talia Pazos (2012).
Joaquin Rey, current president of HAPS, says that the association's main objective is to create spaces for discussion on issues of relevance for our country among students, professors and researchers from the various professional schools of the university. The discussion is enriched by the participation of researchers and top scholars, as well as by the group's multidisciplinary approach. The association also provides support and guidance to young Peruvians interested in applying to Harvard.
Since its founding, the association has organized and participated in events with political, academic and private sector leaders in Peru, such as Keiko Fujimori, Julio Guzmán, Alfredo Barnechea, Jaime Saavedra, Miguel Castilla, Piero Ghezzi and Susana Villarán. These events have given the opportunity to discuss key issues for the development of Peru, such as educational reform, productive diversification, corruption, and economic growth, among others. The organization seeks for all perspectives to be represented, so diversity in the guests is welcomed and encouraged.
HAPS members believe that there are a number of myths about Harvard in Peru. There is a perception that entering is extremely difficult or that the cost is unaffordable. However, more and more Peruvians graduate successfully. To date, there are 30 Peruvians studying between the undergraduate school and seven graduate schools (Government, Business, Education, Law, Design, Public Health and Sciences). Approximately 70% of them are awarded some kind of scholarship by the university.
The association is particularly interested in getting in touch with the poorer sectors in Peru, so among its plans for the semester is to establish contact with students from the High Performance Schools of the Ministry of Education as well as with students from public universities.
Among other activities, this semester the association will also have Verónica Mendoza and former prime minister Pablo Cateriano as guests and will hold a fund-raising party to bring relief to those affected by natural disasters in Peru. The party will be attended by some 200 members of the Harvard University community.
HAPS members invite Peruvians interested in applying to Harvard to visit their Facebook page (www.facebook.com/harvardperu) where they can follow the organization's activities as well as send questions about admission processes and scholarships.