On Tuesday, May 9, EARTH University, the Ecuadorian Municipality of Machala, and the Center for Entrepreneurship and Municipal Business Strengthening (CEFEM, for its initials in Spanish) signed a cooperation agreement.
The meeting’s key participants included Machala Mayor (and EARTH graduate) Carlos Falquez (’97, Ecuador), CEFEM Director Martha Naranjo, EARTH President Arturo Condo, and officials from two towns in Limón, Costa Rica.
“One of the values I learned during my time at EARTH was tolerance. It became one of the main tools of my life,” Falquez said. “Without it, I wouldn’t be here today.”
Among the agreement’s features are the organization of events, seminars, talks and other similar activities to increase knowledge and experiences related to entrepreneurial growth, the providing of economic support, and the building of trainings that will benefit Machala, Guácimo and Pococí’s development.
“It’s important for EARTH to sign this type of agreement. This is even more special because Carlos is one of our graduates, and he knows the impact [an EARTH education] will have in the lives of these young men and their communities,” said Gerardo Mirabelli, EARTH vice president of development. “We are very excited for what we can provide one another.”
The participants attended presentations about EARTH’s education model, the entrepreneurship project program and the new master’s degree. They also received tours of EARTH’s Guácimo campus and La Flor campus in Liberia, Guanacaste, Costa Rica.