It is a privilege to celebrate and commemorate with you a remarkable milestone: the Tenth Anniversary of Seeds for Progress Foundation, an incredible journey we have embarked upon together…
Agents of change and dreamers on a mission to prove the power of education.
SFP is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization committed to transforming lives through quality education in rural communities in Central America.
Cue the confetti and strike up the band! It’s our 10th anniversary and we’re happy to celebrate a decade of making a difference together!
Our rural education model is a methodological proposal for formal education from preschool to secondary in rural schools. Its intervention route integrates principles, strategies, and didactic resources to improve access, permanence, and quality in the education system.
Assessment of Challenges in Rural Education –
University of Pennsylvania & INCAE Nicaragua.
Definition of Seeds for Progress education programs.
Exchange of experience in rural education with Lucker Foundation and Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia – New Active School Model.
Development of Seeds to Lead program – Curriculum and inter-learning Guides for 4th to 11th grade.
Definition of the Rural Education Model: Cultivating Education.
Development of Seeds to Learn Program – Curriculum, projects, and inter-learning guides for pre-school, primary and high school.
Contextualization
of Cultivating Education model for rural communities.
Partnership with Ministry of Education, institutions, and civil society.
Formation of network of trainers in Cultivating Education model.
Validation and implementation
in rural schools.
Where education blossoms, communities flourish.
Our model integrates innovative programs that nurture the potential of children and young people for a brighter future.
Our interventions are also complemented by programs that empower the sustainable development of the community.
Fosters the development of competencies through interdisciplinary learning projects that favor necessary skills for life from pre-school through high school.
Develops entrepreneurship and leadership skills through the development of productive projects and business plans aimed at students from 4th to 11th grade.
Our seasonal program consolidates various initiatives to provide better opportunities for children of coffee-harvesting families, preventing child labor and school absenteeism through care centers with specialized attention.
Through this program, we empower youth with job skills through technical training, offering comprehensive instruction in sustainable practices and business management, with scholarship opportunities for ongoing education.
Environmental stewardship isn’t just about preserving nature; it’s about nurturing the very spaces where children learn, grow, and thrive. From sustainable supplies to resilient infrastructure, every element plays a crucial role in shaping a brighter future for our young learners.
We believe in unlocking doors to endless possibilities for education and development through technology. From interactive learning tools to digital resources, technology bridges gaps and opens pathways for children in rural communities.
Through the unconditional support of our generous donors, we were able to grow our roots into 4 departments of Guatemala bringing access to quality education to rural schools and providing safe learning spaces during the coffee harvest.
In 2023, our Seeds to Learn program grew exponentially from 4 to 15 rural schools in our quest to amend the adverse and lingering effects of the pandemic on education in the region.
Through this initiative we trained teachers with innovative methodologies to strengthen students’ reading, writing, and math skills, complemented with didactic resources, educational materials, and school supplies that positively impacted children’s learning.
Name: La Esperanza School
Location: Municipality of Casillas, Department of Santa Rosa, Guatemala
Modality: Pre-School, Elementary, and Secondary
Student population: 176
Teachers: 16
In 2023, La Esperanza School was benefited by Seeds for Progress with the implementation of the Seeds to Learn program with the objective of improving the quality of learning of students in 1st to 3rd grade. Teachers received more than 12 hours of training in educational methodologies to help students improve their level of reading, comprehension, writing, and math. As a result, 63% of children from 1st to 3rd grade surpassed the standard of average words read per minute for their grade level.
This year, we spread our roots into new communities with the opening of 3 new child labor prevention centers in Guatemala, further strengthening our efforts towards the prevention of child labor and promotion of education during the coffee harvest. This initiative is driving substantial transformations and fostering opportunities for families in rural coffee-growing regions.
Moving forward, we are dedicated to advancing our commitment to education and the protection of children´s rights in the coming year by establishing a total of 5 centers in other regions of the country.
If you’re passionate about a particular educational program or project, consider supporting it directly.
Since childhood, Otto had harbored a deep-seated aspiration for education, viewing it not just as a pursuit of knowledge but as a transformative journey toward personal fulfillment and communal betterment. With a fervent dedication to agronomy, he envisioned himself as a catalyst for positive change within their community, striving to uplift its social and economic landscape
Seeds for Progress emerged as the beacon that illuminated his path to realizing this ambitious dream. Enrolled as a student at Escuela Las Marías, a rural school in Jinotega established by SFP, he found himself immersed in an environment ripe with opportunity. The contrast between this modernized school with quality education in cutting-edge infrastructure and the previous humble educational setting left an indelible mark, igniting a newfound zeal for learning.
The Foundation swiftly evolved into an integral facet of his life, serving as both a nurturing mentor and a steadfast ally in Ottoniel´s personal and professional growth. Through hard work and dedication, he completed high school and continued his studies instilled with the belief in the boundless potential of higher learning.
Today, as an accomplished Agronomist employed by a pioneering Japanese agricultural firm in the United States, he has transcended social and economic boundaries to channel his expertise towards innovation and progress. Embracing each new opportunity as a chance for personal and intellectual enrichment, Ottoniel remains steadfast in his commitment to leveraging his experiences to uplift others.
With a vision that transcends individual success, Ottoniel aspires to cultivate his own farm in the future, nurturing both crops and minds alike in his rural community. His life goal is to serve as an example of perseverance and a source of inspiration for the youth of his community, imparting the invaluable lesson that with unwavering determination and dedication, the pursuit of dreams knows no bounds. His mantra remains unwavering: never give up.
As we reflect on the events shared with our incredible friends and donors throughout the year, we’re reminded of the seeds we’ve planted together—seeds of hope, knowledge, and opportunity.
We shared a special evening among allies and friends at our official launch event in Guatemala: “La educación ilumina vidas”.
Our passion for education and love for coffee allows us to form alliances that transform lives. In this path of forming young minds through education, such alliances are like the branches of a strong coffee plant, intertwining and providing stability in the face of challenges. We celebrate our new partnership with Funcafé, who shares our vision of education as a pillar for the development of coffee growing communities. In addition, we will continue to work hand in hand with the Guatemalan Ministry of Education, a collaboration that will allow us to achieve our common goals.
This is only the beginning of a great dream for Guatemalan communities!
Together we commemorated a decade of transforming lives through access to quality education in coffee-growing communities in the iconic Empire State Building in New York.
To celebrate our tenth anniversary, we set a goal of providing access to quality education to 1,400 children and youth in Guatemala for a complete school year.
With your support, we were able to benefit these children with well-trained teachers, adequate school infrastructure, school supplies, innovative educational programs, technology, and a supportive community.
As we celebrated our 10th anniversary, we took the opportunity to express our heartfelt gratitude and highlight the invaluable contributions of these visionary partners who have played a pivotal role in empowering communities and shaping brighter futures through a special award to commemorate their support.
Thank you for standing by our side throughout this decade and embarking on a journey to spread joy throughout coffee communities.
The presence of all of you that night made our hearts happy. We thank you for opening your hearts to the rural children of Guatemala by spreading joy through education!
The Miami Night for Niños event in partnership with Oliva Foundation & Fabretto Foundation is the exemplifies the vast capacity that bringing together people’s hearts for a common purpose hold in transforming the lives of children, and positively influencing the lives of teachers and families.
Special shoutout to the Fabretto Foundation for organizing this wonderful event that brought us together to work hand in hand for education in Central America.
A commitment to responsible stewardship and impactful resource management.
Join us in celebrating the remarkable journey of our esteemed donors, whose generosity has fueled our mission and inspired us to continue sowing the seeds of hope for generations to come.
Fabretto Children´s Foundation
Lavazza
Inter American Development Bank – Building Goodness Foundation Build On – Educo – Funcafé – Global Communities – Ministry of Education of Guatemala – Operation Blessing – Pencils of Promise Plan International – RTI – S. Ishimitsu & Co. – Save the Children Unicef – We Effect
Join our network of change agents who are improving the lives of thousands of people living in rural communities in the Central American region. Become a seeder by supporting our programs!
Dear Friends,
It is a privilege to celebrate and commemorate with you a remarkable milestone: the 10th Anniversary of Seeds for Progress Foundation, an incredible journey we have embarked upon together.
Ten years ago, we envisioned a foundation that could play a significant role in the progress and growth of coffee communities of Central America. Along with committed partners, we observed the challenges they faced of low-quality education and the distressing prevalence of child labor.
Our dream took root and blossomed, like a coffee seed, steadily growing with our passion and commitment. From our beginnings, we have prioritized the sustainable development of those we serve, quickly becoming pioneers in providing access to quality education in remote rural areas throughout Nicaragua.
My dear brother, Duilio, who departed from this world in January 2020, played a pivotal role in partnering the University of Pennsylvania´s Graduate School of Education to develop programs. Thanks to his dedication to this project, rural schools in Nicaragua were able to benefit from UPenn’s innovative educational methods and cutting-edge technology.
Our strategy has always been to focus on understanding the needs of our communities. This led us to develop educational programs aimed at improving access and quality of education in rural schools, so children and youth could thrive and reach their potential. We pioneered the creation of an innovative child labor prevention program that protects children while educating parents and coffee families about children’s rights during the coffee harvest.
In our decade of service, we have been able to transform the lives of over 30,500 children and 520 teachers in 149 coffee-growing communities across Nicaragua and Guatemala.
With an investment exceeding $9 million, we have enhanced school infrastructure, introduced advanced teaching technologies, and implemented innovative educational methods that have led to significant improvements in the overall educational experience for youths.
The dream that started in Nicaragua also flourished in Guatemala, where we continue to promote education in remote coffee regions. In 2023, we grew into other regions bringing our vision of progress to more children and youth. We established 3 new child labor prevention centers in the rural regions of El Morrito, Zapotalito, and Montesinas that benefited more than 100 familes and 160 children with a safe space to receive education, nutrition, and care during the coffee harvest. With your help, we also expanded into 15 schools with our innovative methodology that strengthened reading and writing, and math skills in more than 2,200 students from 1st to 3rd grade and benefited 119 teachers with training that improved the quality of education inside the classroom.
This year was transformational for our organization as we developed our own Rural Education Model that empowers students and cultivates leaders through the development of cognitive, social, and ethical competencies for life. Our methodological proposal defines a route for formal education from preschool to high school while integrating principles, strategies, and didactic resources to improve access, permanence and quality in rural schools. We are excited to begin the implementation of our model in more than 20 schools in the coming year. Our work is a testament to the transformative power of education in driving social and economic change in remote, underserved communities.
For over a decade, now, we have empowered children leading them to achieve their fullest potential. None of it would have been possible without the support of a network of more than a thousand generous individuals, companies, foundations, and multilateral entities that have partnered with us to make this dream a reality.
On behalf of the children, thank you for being a part of this family. Each one of you is our reason to rejoice as we embark on another decade of cultivating lives through education.
Thank you,
