Seeds for Progress Foundation´s Cultivating Education Model

Seeds for Progress Foundation (SFP) is a non-profit organization that has collaborated with the integral development of rural communities in coffee-growing areas in Guatemala and Nicaragua through education with the support of local and international partners. Since 2013, SFP has impacted more than 30,500 children with quality education in more than 25 schools in 149 communities, trained more than 500 teachers with 10,000 hours of professional capacity-building, and developed 50 school infrastructure projects with an investment of $2.5M for a total 9 million dollars in its projects and programs. Currently, SFP works in 15 schools and 6 seasonal child labor prevention centers that benefit 2,400 children with quality education, 140 teachers with professional capacity-building in rural communities in Guatemala. SFP programs integrate teacher training, provision of educational materials and school supplies, prevention of child labor, business training for students, and monitoring.

Seeds for Progress Foundation developed the Cultivating Education Model as a flexible proposal for formal education aimed at rural children and youth in Central America, between the ages of 4 and 17. It is based on an approach of complete educational trajectories, from preschool, primary and secondary education; it integrates the principles, components and strategies of the Active School into the curriculum. Its backbone are competencies for entrepreneurship and leadership, that in turn link in a harmonious and flexible way three other groups of competencies (basic, socio-emotional and ICT) to ensure transition, progressivity and complementarity in the educational trajectory.  To develop, assess and transfer competencies, the Model takes elements from the context and adapts it in an interdisciplinary manner, developing Learning Projects to articulate knowledge, skills and values necessary for the consolidation of projects for life and generational linkage.

Speakers: 

Martha Alicia Moreno, specialist in educational sciences and community social development projects. Graduated from the National Autonomous University of Nicaragua, with a Master's Degree in Community Development Management and a Doctorate in Education from La Salle University in Costa Rica. With 30 years of experience working on social projects in Central America from the public, private and non-governmental organizations, with an emphasis on Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability and coordinating social development projects.

Josette Exprúa is a development and marketing specialist for non-profit organizations in Central America. Graduated from INCAE Business School with a Master´s in Business Administration and Marketing and a Bachelor of Science in Business from the University of North Carolina. With more than 20 years of experience working in the field of marketing and development for non-profit organizations and the sustainability of social programs for the betterment of the most vulnerable populations in Central America.