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Preserving
the most endangered ecosystems in the tropics is not a common
topic at most universities. At Earth University in Costa Rica,
that’s the main focus of student studying. The school’s
students come from rural, poor areas of the tropics to learn
skills to create sustainable development projects back in their
home towns or countries.
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| This
year marks the 15th anniversary of Earth University and, to
celebrate, the school intends to profile the nearly 1,000 graduates
who have become “agents
of change”
in their communities. These students finished their four-year
programs and went on to create sustainable development projects
with the entrepreneurial skills they learned at school. The
projects respect the environment, use respectful business practices
and are ethical and sustainable. |
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| Based in Guacimo, Limon,
Costa Rica, Earth University’s curriculum focuses on agricultural
sciences and natural resources. The rain forest outside of the
student dormitories serve as their living laboratory. While that
rainforest provides a means of support for many poor communities
throughout the tropics, but too often those uses harm the forest
itself, through the use of chemicals and what one student calls “slash
and burn agriculture.” |
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“Our students are now growing
their communities at the grass roots,” said Gian Ross-Espagnet,
the executive director of the Earth University Foundation. “I
can’t think of better examples of how development takes
place than through the types of projects the University graduates
have begun.”
In 2004, 404 students were enrolled at the University, representing
24 countries, many of them in Latin America. Costa Rica,
Ecuador, Guatemala and Honduras are well represented in the
student body. The young leaders attending classes at Earth
University would otherwise not have access to a university
education.
Growth is in Earth University’s future. The former president
of Costa Rica has given the school a 4000-acre farm, which
will become part of the University’s program. They are
just now considering how best to the use the farm for expanded
training opportunities.
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