FSD achieves community-driven goals through asset-based development and international exchange in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. CORE VALUES START WITH ASSETS, NOT PROBLEMS We take an asset-based approach to development work. We begin by listening to the priorities set by our community-based partners at our international program sites. We then identify and utilize existing assets and capacity to address those priorities. MOTIVATE COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP We partner… [+] with leaders, organizations, and stakeholders committed to change, action, and social justice. We stress community ownership and participation before launching initiatives, especially in our volunteer and student programs. GENERATE ENDURING RESULTS AND IMPACT We ensure the outcomes of our support have long-lasting benefits for our partners. We think hard on how to participate appropriately and effectively in development, and on how to become redundant so that our initiatives outlast our involvement. BUILD CAPACITY We strengthen the skills, competencies, and abilities of the leaders at our community-based partners and of our student and professional volunteers. We educate and train, facilitating the sharing of best practices across all of our stakeholders to support our partners’ priorities. BE A BRIDGE We relentlessly build a network of students, professionals, and passionate advocates for our community-based partners to access. We connect this network of assets and volunteers with the work of our partners through our international exchange and grantmaking programs. CHANGE PERSPECTIVES We share our experiences and learnings about the complexities of development with friends, family, and colleagues. We promote cultural exchange and sensitivity, encouraging a reflective approach to navigating cross-cultural issues, confusions, and tensions. PROMOTE RECIPROCITY We operate on our founding principle that producing strong community outcomes must be the priority. We base all partnerships, strategies, and decisions on the Fair Trade Learning concept that we must be ethical and reciprocal in our planning, implementation, and outcomes. MAKING CONNECTIONS FOR GREATER AND MORE SUSTAINABLE IMPACT The power to end poverty and achieve sustainable prosperity is in people. Every person can make a difference. Every person is powerful and has something to contribute. When people work together they are even more powerful. We are committed to uniting people for the common good. Our approach focuses on mobilizing resources—human, economic, and natural—for sustainable, life-changing initiatives. We use an asset-based community development approach that encourages self-reliance and inspires appreciation of existing resources in the community and the confidence to build upon them. We constantly challenge ourselves and others to do more with what we have. We believe that with an attitude of resourcefulness, positive change is possible even in low-resource settings. We facilitate change by bringing together voices of the community, the ongoing efforts of local groups and organizations, and the local resources identified in the community, connecting them with international students, professionals and donors who want to make a difference. Because better results come from working together, we strive to combine diverse experiences, talents, and perspectives to make stronger outcomes. Because we believe that respecting diverse perspectives is critical for constructive dialogue and meaningful progress, we deliberately seek out those perspectives and engage the community in dialogue around important issues. In this way, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. We put our heads together with the community at the lead to address issues and bring solutions into reality in a sustainable and locally-appropriate way. HOW WE WORK — OUR MODEL We begin by listening to our community. Our community consists of local NGOs and community members in 6 countries, universities, students, alumni, staff, donors, and socially responsible companies. We listen for what each is seeking to accomplish and what they have to give. We identify community priorities and from there build programs. At each program site, we work with a wide range of grassroots community development organizations addressing issues important to their community such as access to clean water, sustainable agriculture, income generation, education, gender equity, and health care. We have local staff on the ground who are members of that community and who stay in touch with what’s happening. The agenda is set by those local community development organizations. They put forward their ideas and initiatives to improve the quality of life in their community. FSD then works to mobilize human resources, funds, skills, and knowledge to support those locally-led initiatives. FSD works with universities, companies, civic groups and individuals interested in engaging in collaborative, on-the-ground development work alongside local grassroots leaders. FSD provides training and orientation to those students and volunteers as well as facilitating on-going learning and reflection. In each placement, FSD blends the interests and talents of these people with local knowledge and expertise to develop and implement sustainable development projects in the community. To complement this flow of human resources and the accompanying knowledge exchange, FSD offers two kinds of grant programs. First, a competitive grant fund administered by FSD itself. Second, we facilitate the formation of giving circles to act as mini-foundations making grants to community development organizations in our program sites. [-]

OUTWARD BOUND COSTA RICA challenges participants to expand capacity in leadership, intercultural competence, Spanish language, self-awareness, and life skills. For over 70 years, participants have chosen to embark on a life-changing journey with Outward Bound worldwide. The objectives of Outward Bound Costa Rica programs are to facilitate personal growth and success in the following areas: CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT Demonstrating increased self-confidence and self-actualization … [+] Demonstrating compassion toward others and living a healthy and balanced life LEADERSHIP Demonstrating the ability to set goals, and inspire and guide others to achieve them Demonstrating the ability to collaborate, communicate, and resolve conflicts effectively SERVICE Demonstrating social and environmental responsibility Actively engaging in service to others ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT Demonstrating success against traditional measures of school achievement Connecting concepts and Spanish learned in the classroom with real life experiences HIGHLY SKILLED, safety-conscious, trained staff lead OBCR adventure-based programs. Our team is comprised of both local and foreign national staff dedicated to creating the highest quality program for our students. The majority of our Instructor staff has completed their training with Outward Bound Costa Rica and hold certificates in Wilderness First Responder, First Aid, CPR, AED for the Professional Rescuer, Whitewater Rescue, Technical Rope Rescue, International Rafting Federation Guide Class I-IV, Instructor Judgment Training, Land Instructor Training, Sea Kayak Training, Whitewater Kayak Training, NAUI Advanced Open Water Scuba Diver, and Waterfront Lifeguard, depending on their area of specialty. For each course we strive for one male and one female instructor, one English speaker and one Spanish speaker. There is one instructor for every 5 – 6 students. The minimum number of instructors per course is 2. Intern instructors are those outstanding students who have completed our fall and/or spring Outdoor Leader Semester in which they earned their certifications. This hands on training prepares them to take leadership roles within OBCR in subsequent years. OUR HOMESTAY FAMILIES have worked with Outward Bound Costa Rica since its beginning in 1992. Most sons and daughters have been course instructors at varying times, and are called upon regularly to assist with our hikes. The families live along the hike route in Piedras Blancas on which we travel and own the land, farm the land and teach our students traditional methods of farming, harvesting, cooking and camping. The students stay as a group inside the family farms. Students on course are with their instructors at all times. Evening activities include a nightly meeting where discussion takes place regarding learnings of the day, highlights and lowlights of the day, open questions or discussions brought to the group by the students and the Moon Frog Ceremony marking an exceptional student’s transformation that day. Students are assigned roles each day, with roles rotating between all students on course. Roles include the Cacique (Leader), the Awa (Spiritual Leader), the Shaman (First Aid Person), the Cocineros (Cooks), Trapos (Dishwashers), the Hanashita (Journal Writer), the Professor (Teacher), Naturalista (Environmentalist), and Agua-Mono (Water Monkey). Food and supplies for the hike are split between all on the hike including the instructors, and any dietary specifications for food allergies is kept separate from the main food supply. OBCR routinely has students who have dietary food restrictions and we will accommodate any conditions that arise. OBCR COURSE descriptions and pricing is located on our website www.outwardboundcr.org Pricing is all inclusive, with the exception of airfare. All students fly into SJO, Juan Santamaria International Airport located in San Jose, the capital city of Costa Rica. Groups range in size from 5 - 15 students on our open enrollment summer courses, 8 - 12 students on semester courses and 5 – 20 students on custom courses. Group accommodations vary from course to course. While in Costa Rica students either camp outdoors under large tarps or tents, or stay in dorm rooms with host families or on our basecamps. In Panama students camp near the beaches on approved host family land, and in Nicaragua students camp at community centers. Students and instructors are within sight of each other. Students are in sleeping bags or on mattresses depending on where they are staying. All of our activities involve physical exertion and take place in remote and rugged terrain. The most “pampered” of our courses are the surf and community service courses. All terrain has its unique and impressive beauty whether in the mountains, on the rivers or by the sea. Course activities include: hiking, wilderness trekking, mountaineering, backpacking, sailing, snorkeling, scuba diving, river and sea kayaking, canoeing, white water rafting, rapelling, wake boarding, surfing, boogie boarding, rock wall climbing, tree climbing, zip lining, cultural activities and service projects. All of our courses offer extensive service components. The community service projects focus on people, construction, animals, marine biology and environmental/reforestation/ecological issues. Our semester courses, River to Sea, Coast to Coast each earn students 12 hours of academic credit and Outdoor Leader Semester earns students 10 hours of academic credit. OUTWARD BOUND COSTA RICA offers a mix of courses to a wide range of students. They share a number of traits in common. They have a passion for the outdoors, are high achieving students, welcome opportunities to push themselves beyond known limits, and are open to diversity and the unknown. They are willing to unplug from their electronic world, and live in the moment in Costa Rica, Panama and/or Nicaragua, living “Pura Vida,” as we say in Costa Rica. Summer open enrollment students range in age from 14 to 18, semester students range in age from 18 to 24, custom courses range from Girl Scout troops, to high school classes, to university freshman, to families and everything in between. We contract with several other Outward Bound schools, local Tico schools, and high school/university scholar societies. OBCR’S ALUMNI and their families serve as OBCR Ambassadors and are happy to answer questions about their experiences and courses. Please contact us at enrollment@outwardboundcr.org, or call us at 800.676.2018 for a list of recent participants. [-]

The Central University of Nicaragua inspired by values ​​and ethics exists to form integral professionals and entrepreneurs, able to successfully face the challenges of the globalized world, through processes of teaching innovative learning, student-centered as active in their own training subject. Vision The Central University of Nicaragua is an institution of higher education recognized for having a consolidated multidisciplinary educational project, through the imp… [+] lementation of projects that allow an academically competitive and committed comprehensive institutional development with quality education that incorporates research and extension processes training. [-]

Kulturstudier offers academic programmes in the social sciences and humanities at our study centers in Argentina, Ghana, India, Nicaragua and Vietnam. Courses are owned and credited by our university partners. Our university partners are: Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences Universidad Nacional de San Martin Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Nicaragua, León University of Danang Phan Chau Trinh … [+] University University of Cape Coast Kulturstudier was started in 1997 by a group of social scientists and humanists from the University of Oslo. The idea has since been to offer education of high academic and pedagogical quality in environments that offer experiences that bring to life and challenge the academic content. Besides consistently good academic results and new friends, our students gain a new experience of a country that many return to. Kulturstudier's independent position enables us to recruit the best lecturers and teachers from around the world. We are very proud of our inspiring teaching staff that each term ensures that our students get the most out of their studies. [-]

ADEN is an international educational network accredited by ACBSP, whose main activity is its Business School, Founded in 1992. It is focused on the professional development of executives and business managers, both modality as e-learning; and currently it has 26 offices spread across 17 countries in Latin America and Europe. It relies on applied research conducted within the University Senior Management. It also enjoys the endorsement of prestigious American and European… [+] universities to certify their training. It is characterized by the innovation of learning models aimed at the practical application and use of methodologies interactive, experiential and recreational classes by teachers who pass on their vast managerial experience and transfer best practices among companies throughout Latin America and Spain . EDUCATION ORIENTED PRACTICE The pioneer ADEN transfer system is different from traditional business schools, it emphasizes action-oriented learning, applying the theory to the world of business. 26 VENUES in 17 countries Advanced technology training programs with global vision THE BIGGEST BUSINESS NETWORK OF LATIN AMERICA Since its inception, ADEN was essential not only to expand their teaching methodology executives, but also prepare them to face an internationalized world. For this reason he decided to implement an educational network that allows each of its students to gain valuable experiences from other cultures who share the same language. MISSION Form business leaders through an international educational network for the study and application of the most advanced knowledge and management tools, based on a community of executives who promote the professional growth of its members and cooperate with improving the competitiveness of enterprises and development of the countries where ADEN is. VALUES Dignity: consider the person as an end in itself, recognizing its intrinsic value, their freedoms, rights and responsibilities. Solidarity assume the commitment to cooperate, through the educational role and actions of solidarity with the common good of those who live in countries where ADEN is. Consensus / Community: develop a sense of community among members of the group, made up of students, teachers and staff of ADEN Business School. Pragmatism: understand and promote the value of knowledge, theory and truth, with a practical approach, to contribute to the cultural development of the region and entrepreneur. Diversity: integrate and accommodate executives without differentiation of gender, nationality, race, religion, or political or ideological affinity. [-]