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.

Turning Uncertainty Into Purpose: A Story of Resilience
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.

Women Who Hold Up the World
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.

Changed by EARTH and Ready to Contribute to Her Community
When Débora Flores Vásquez (Class of 2026, Guatemala) began her studies at EARTH she knew she had found the place that would form her career. From her work on vanilla cultivation during her third-year Internship at an eco-lodge and retreat center in Oaxaca, Mexico, to her Graduation Project plan to formulate a yogurt-like product with a healthful bacteria and additional fiber, she is amassing a diverse set of skills. After graduation at the end of 2026, she is eager to apply all she has learned at her family farm and in her community of Rio Dulce, Guatemala.