Spotlight: The Students at Earth University
by Marie Niedermaier
Last year at the Common Ground Summit, I participated in a panel titled Our Place in the Future. As a recent high school graduate, I got the chance to share the stage with two students from the EARTH University. Ana and Jacob were both third-year students at EARTH, studying agriculture and farming with a focus on going back to their communities in Guatemala and South Sudan in order to share their knowledge and skills for change. Both Ana and Jacob talked about the challenges they face in their home countries and what they are already doing at a young age to make a difference. One key element to find solutions to current challenges we all agreed on, is the involvement of youth in decision making and leadership roles. While we might lack experience, the fire and drive to get things done are strengths that need to be recognized. Or as Jacob said “Among the strong vital things I learned throughout the summit: bridging the wisdom of the older, experienced generation with the creativity and energy of the youth, is the necessary next step in forging a resilient future for all.”
EARTH University in Costa Rica is a place where this idea is embodied, where students are empowered through study by giving them resources and knowledge to lead in their communities.
EARTH only has one degree: Agricultural Sciences, with a focus on learning by doing. Most EARTH students come from South America, Africa, and the Caribbean, with many receiving scholarships and grants.
Two weeks after joining the panel at the Common Ground Summit, I had the chance to stay with the president of EARTH University, Arturo Condo in Costa Rica to work at the school's graduation ceremony. It was a transformative experience which reinforced my understanding about how important education is and how it is vital in creating a more sustainable and equitable world
The university’s campus hosts a large nature preserve, a carbon forest, and a large banana plantation. The plantation is a supplier to the Whole Foods “Sourced for Good” program. “Every purchase of EARTH bananas helps to fund student scholarships. The result: Students leave EARTH University with the goal of becoming change agents who combat poverty, and promote ethical and sustainable food production in their home counties.” (Whole Foods)
The curriculum, state-of-the-art technology and hands-on education are building the foundation for the innovative, sustainable, and change-making philosophy of the school. To graduate, students are required to create their own food-centered business and push the boundaries of what they consider achievable.
The students at EARTH are incredibly kind and welcoming, but beyond that, their drive is inspiring. They care deeply about their studies and what they hope to do with their degree after graduating. Many of the students aren’t just first-generation college graduates, but were the first in their families to attend high school and to leave their countries. Their stories are truly awe-inspiring.
I am very much looking forward to another Common Ground Summit where President Arturo Condo and Earth Students will once again join the conversations around youth leadership, regenerative farming, and how to create opportunities in local communities.