In 2022 we opened our Youth Centre in Trinidad, Santa Bárbara in partnership with the local municipality. This centre is now the basis of our operations and our growing scholarship programme and provides local youth with educational opportunities and trainings in leadership, community engagement and global citizenship. The centre also acts as a local public library.
In 2019 we visited what had once been the municipal library building of Trinidad, though it had not been in use for over a decade. The visit sparked the idea to begin working with the municipality to open a public library as well as a center for educate.s’ operations. Through a partnership with the Municipality of Trinidad, we worked to restore it and create a center for learning, youth empowerment and community engagement. Located next to the “Cancha Municipal” and in the centre of the town, it is a perfect location to bring young people together after school and on weekends in a safe, inclusive and creative space.
Through this new center we are providing a space for our scholars and other young people to gather for educational workshops, leadership programmes, community engagement activities, and peer-to-peer mentorship and tutoring.
Creation & Mural Painting
The Inauguration
Programmes
STEM
Our STEM programme, called “Tecnologia con Proposito” (Technology with Purpose), involves youth in hands-on STEM education including IT skills, programming, and robotics.
Arts
Our “EducARTE” arts programme focuses on creative expression and using art for social change. Students gain skills in drawing, painting, sculpture and community muralism.
Sport
Through our ‘UniDeportes’ sports programme, we provide weekly sports activities for youth from rural communities in order to foster positive values, soft skills such as leadership and teamwork, and promote gender equity.
Communications
Our communications programme ‘Joven Communica’ focuses on empowering young people to tell their own stories and the stories of their communities. In the programme they develop communication skills in public speaking, writing, photography, and video and audio editing.
Leadership and Personal Development Workshops
Once a month, all our youth participants take part in a workshop, focusing on a different topic each time. These workshops provide safe spaces for young people to discuss issues and topics that are often left out of formal education and that help them gain a stronger sense of identity and self confidence, as well as strengthening knowledge in youth rights and building leadership skills. Topics include self esteem, assertive communication, values, gender norms, sexual and reproductive health and rights, goal setting, and more.
educate. 