We recently held the eighth edition of EARTH Talks, an event that provides a platform for students and other community members to germinate an idea, cultivate it, and compellingly present it to an audience. Throughout the process of preparing for and participating in the event, participants develop communication tools and essential life skills.
Pacifique Agiraneza has a dream that began in her community in Rwanda: that no child in Africa should have to grow up without access to nutritious food. As she is in her second year at EARTH, her venture, Light Farmers, is also growing and contributing to fight against food insecurity.
Daniel (Class of 2004) and David Villegas (Class of 2008) are Colombian brothers and EARTH graduates who work alongside rural communities in their country to support productive processes and build bridges connecting farmers with fair markets and opportunities for growth. Guided by this commitment, they founded Salva Terra Foundation.
At EARTH, Marian Pérez Pizarro (Class of 2027, Costa Rica) has developed a passion for agriculture and a love for learning. Inspired by her coursework, Marian hopes to learn more about plant pathology through her third-year Professional Internship at the Federal University of Viçosa in Minas, Brazil. She seeks to expand her understanding of Agricultural Sciences while at the same time deepening her cultural understanding of the world.
Karla Mena Soto (Class of 2000, Costa Rica) believes that with the right tools and collaboration, agriculture can be a climate-friendly industry. As the country’s first female National Director of Agricultural Extension and the Climate Change representative to COP, Karla has played a key role in driving Costa Rica’s sustainable agriculture agenda forward. Despite her impressive titles, Karla measures her success based on the impact she has made in the lives of others. Karla’s credits her EARTH education for the ability to accompany producers to implement solutions that are simultaneously beneficial for their production and for the planet.
From reducing nutrients in contaminated water to producing biomass with commercial potential, microalgae offer surprising possibilities. Read about how Nelson Esquivel (Class of 2026, Bolivia) is investigating their potential as part of BioEARTH, a platform that drives innovative solutions through these microscopic organisms.
Juan Claudio De Oliva Maya (Class of 2010, Bolivia) founded his internationally recognized company, GreenCloud, during his fourth year at EARTH. To date, GreenCloud has supported over 150 organizations in 22 countries to achieve and manage carbon neutrality. Juan Claudio credits the impact he has been able to generate to the entrepreneurial spirit and critical thinking skills instilled in him at EARTH. Studying at EARTH allowed him to build an impact startup that focuses not on pure economic growth but achieving sustainable environmental impact.
Racheal Adol Ajang, fourth-year student and Mastercard Foundation Scholar at EARTH, was born and raised in Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya. From teaching in the camp’s secondary school to founding an organization to support young girls, she arrived at EARTH with a demonstrated commitment to getting involved wherever she was needed. Today, as she looks toward graduation day, she plans to continue making an impact as a leader in agriculture. On this World Refugee Day, we honor the stories of young people like Racheal, who show us the power of strength and resilience.
Love stories that began between classes, sisters who crossed continents to study the same career, and children who chose to follow in their parents’ footsteps. These are some of the families who have made EARTH more than a University: it’s a meeting point between generations.
From Cuba to Mexico to the United States, the story of Frankys de la Osa (Class of 2002, Cuba) is one of relocation, learning, and constant reinvention. Frankys transformed his curiosity into practical tools to build, innovate, and begin again, first through a family citrus business and now through a new agricultural project in Florida. His journey reflects how education, memory, and adaptability can take root anywhere.
Over the past three years, Mastercard Foundation Scholar and fourth year student Damaris Nzala (Class of 2026, Zambia) has developed into the kind of leader EARTH is focused on developing: one prepared to go out into the world and make the changes needed in their communities. From serving as President of the African Student Union to taking leadership in other on-campus groups, she has stretched herself and grown in new ways. She is prepared to return to her community and help address the challenges faced on the African continent.
What if rural communities did not depend on external aid, but instead on their ability to compete, grow, and sustain their own processes over time? The AMATE Project by EARTH Futures Developing Solutions introduces a new model designed to strengthen capacities, connect stakeholders, and link territories with new opportunities in agritourism.
Patricia de Oliveira (Class of 2003, Brazil) has built a path where entrepreneurship and social impact go hand in hand. From her years as a student to the creation of three language schools in Brazil, her story reflects a clear conviction: businesses can become tools to transform lives.
Martinho Da Silva Tembo (Class of 2018, Zambia) works as a software engineer in Mexico as he continues to apply his background in agriculture through investments in Zambia. Beyond agriculture, the most important takeaway from Martinho’s EARTH experience was an inspiration to promote positive community development and give back to the people around him.
Growing up in a community where most people relied on subsistence farming, Jean Fernando Randriamiajason (Class of 2018, Madagascar) was always encouraged to dream big, work hard, and help those he could. At EARTH, Fernando deepened not only his knowledge of agricultural sciences but also his ability to think critically and interact with others. He has incorporated all these lessons in a variety of sectors in his country, and he hopes to continue to keep building opportunities for his community.
For IGIHOZO Kauthar Sabrina (Class of 2029, Rwanda), studying and bettering herself has always been a way of life. At the age of 23, older than the average EARTH student, Sabrina’s maturity and clear-headed focus are evident when she speaks about going through an illness and moving to another continent to study, and about a mother who has always encouraged her children to do what they love. In honor of International Women’s Day we remember those who have advanced opportunities for women, and those like Sabrina, who are leading the next generation forward.
After seven years of applying for scholarships while working to support her family, Maken Love Mallebranche (Class of 2027, Haiti) received the call that would change her life: news that she had received a full scholarship to study at EARTH. Hers is the story of a young Haitian woman who turned loss, waiting, and uncertainty into purpose.
March is the month when we commemorate the voices of the women who make EARTH’s mission—and the transformation of the world—possible. In this story, we share the stories of a professor, a graduate, a student, and a staff member, all of whom have turned persistence, care, and courage into tools to forge their own paths.
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