EARTH University

Toyota International Teacher Program
Costa Rica 2012

Escuela de Agricultura de le Region Tropical Humeda, EARTH University, is located in Guicimo, Limon Province, Costa Rica. EARTH University is a private, non-profit university specializing in agricultural sciences and the rational use of natural resources.
The university's mission is to contribute to sustainable development around the world with emphasis on Latin America and the Caribbean, regions known for biological and cultural diversity and also for being areas threatened by social disparities and mismanagement of natural resources. 

hydroponic tubes for
vertical cropping

Students are recruited from low-income, rural areas around the world. Graduates earn a licenciatura degree in Agronomy. Graduates attain fluency in Spanish and English, the languages of instruction at EARTH.
To prepare students for community leadership roles upon their return to home countries, the university has a required entrepreneurship program. Students form cooperative groups, identify a need, and develop a product. They present a business plan and receive a $3,000 grant from the university. Projects are expected to be profitable and profits are shared with the university in much the same way that businesses are expected to pay back loans. 

sustainable waste management
exploration

Students learn diverse management skills that will transfer to their professional lives when they return home. Student projects have led to advances in sustainable agricultural management practices such as efficient ways of converting animal waste to methane for cooking. Other projects are more consumer based such as finding new ways to expand markets for locally grown produce.
Approximately 85% of EARTH graduates return home to start up businesses mostly in the agricultural or natural resource management sectors. EARTH graduates network within their home countries providing expertise to new alumni. 
The university offers full scholarships to 50% of all students and partial scholarships to 30% of students. The scholarship fund makes a difference in the lives of the students who receive support and in the lives of the people their education will impact when their return to their home countries. Donations to the can be made at http://donate.earth-usa.org.

Eisenhower Middle School Jeans Day for EARTH

Friday, January 27, 2012

In addition to supporting education, the scholarship fund also helps students with travel aid and things they will need to adapt to living in Costa Rica. Graduating seniors may also apply for assistance to bring parents to the university for the graduation ceremony. In some cases, students are not only the first family member to graduate from a university, but possibly the first person in the village. Your donation goes a long way to making a difference in the lives of EARTH University students and the lives of those they will help upon return to their home countries.