Every EARTH student deeply appreciates the opportunity to study here, and we are grateful for the commitment and passion they bring to building a better future. We at EARTH join them in thanking you for supporting us through your generous donations, and unfailing support and encouragement. In the words of Tribu, “From the depth of our heart, we wish you a very Happy Christmas.” No matter where you may be in the world, take a few minutes to let the joy of our students’ reggae jingle transport you to our home at EARTH.
“Tribu is an African-Reggae-Caribbean band created by EARTH University students. The group formed two-years ago, bringing together music and voices from around the world. These musicians are students of agronomy who see and feel the powerful connection between their art and agriculture.”
Niyi
Niyi Sunday Omidire (’15) comes from southwestern Nigeria and belongs to the Yoruba tribe. Niyi sings and plays conga and occasionally the drum set. “Through my experience, I’d like to provide solutions through music, to solve agricultural problems, to speak with people, to change lives – I love that idea very much.”.
Gregory
Grégory Laforest (’14, Haiti) provides vocals and plays guitar, bass guitar, Haitian drums, and the West African djembe and dunun drums. He believes agriculture requires not only knowledge, but also art: “I really feel free when I play music. It’s the way I communicate.” In the future, Grégory plans to return to Haiti to “work with agriculture, but my music will be the ambassador, the thing that I’ll be using to get people involved in all the process.”
Issa
Issa Daniela Secaira (´14) who plays the rainstick was moved to apply to EARTH by a desire to promote more environmentally harmonious agricultural techniques in her native Guatemala. She believes that, “Being part of a multicultural community like EARTH allows you to exchange cultures, ideas, points of view and knowledge, which is mutually beneficial.”
Gina
Gina Beauzil (’14), from Port-au-Prince, Haiti, provides vocals for Tribu. She shares that “the song came from the depth of each person’s heart.” Gina hopes to use her education at EARTH to one day work with children.
Yami
Yamileh Jean Pierre (’14), from Port-au-Prince, Haiti, provides vocals for Tribu. She believes that music and agronomy complement each other well in life. While at EARTH, Yamileh says, “I’m trying to learn everything I can so I can to bring it back to benefit my country.”
Fabián
Fabián Calvo (’14) from Costa Rica plays percussion, including the conga, djembe, and marimba. “This song means a family to me. I’ve found friends I’ll remember for the rest of my life.” With his EARTH degree, Fabián dreams of finding ways to truly innovate education as he supports rural communities to develop sustainably.
When our students graduate and travel out into the world as global citizens, they take EARTH’s vision, mission, and values with them. Our graduates, the seeds they plant, and the fruit of their labor is EARTH’s gift to the world.
EARTH graduates, Gustavo Manrique and José Javier Guarderas (’96, Ecuador) organized the International Environmental Summit for Kids (CIMA Kids), held October 24 to 28 in Quito, Ecuador. During the event, Ecuadorian students collected, in total, a staggering 1,559,002 plastic bottles. The participants will be added to the Guinness Book of World Records for the largest amount of this type of waste collected in one month.
As a Training Manager with non-profit TechnoServe’s project Haiti Hope, Pierre Paul Audate (’10, Haiti) has successfully trained more than 300 people in accounting, organic certification and fair trade certification. Groups of small-scale mango producers have managed to sell thousands of boxes of mangos thanks to the training he provided them with. Pierre Paul and TechnoServe have also worked directly with a local bank to make loan credit available to thousands of rural people—for the first time.
As a token of thanks, Tribu wants to share the music file of their song, “Christmas Feelings” with anyone who donates to EARTH online from November 28-January 1. So join us in spreading holiday cheer by giving a gift to the world…to the future leaders of sustainability, prosperity and justice…to EARTH.
very nice!!!! I love it :))