To expand education access in rural communities, we offer a secondary education program called SAT (Sistema de Aprendizaje Tutorial), which is fully accredited by the Nicaraguan Ministry of Education as an alternate path to a high school diploma. Fabretto sends trained SAT teachers to rural communities to deliver the education program, which integrates academic content with experiential learning, entrepreneurship, and community service.

This year, SAT placed a special focus on “learning by earning” through productive initiatives, which provide students the opportunity to develop a business plan, learn practical skills, and generate income for their families. In 2013, SAT student initiatives included starting a bakery, selling clothing, and growing crops such as beans, coffee, and chia.

2013 was an outstanding year for SAT. The program was selected as one of the most innovative global education projects as a finalist for the World Innovation Summit in Education (WISE) Awards, sponsored by the Qatar Foundation. Fabretto was honored to share the SAT model with education leaders from around the world at the summit in Qatar.

Read more about SAT, or watch this short video success story about a SAT student business initiative in El Carrizo, Nicaragua.