What is CaTec
CaTec – for Capacidades Técnicas in Spanish – is a youth development program methodology designed to help rural Central American youth thrive. Each CaTec course includes:
- Climate-smart training in agricultural techniques and rural entrepreneurship
- Hands-on practice activities
- Skill building in fundamentals such as communication, critical thinking, and science
- Community service orientation
Through CaTec, youth learn agricultural skills while also helping them stay in school – strengthening retention and academic performance in rural secondary education programs, with a focus on service to the community.
How CaTec Works
CaTec Course Catalog
CaTec courses are typically 150-180 hours of study and run for 6 to 9 months.
Our current course catalog includes:
- Integral Farm Management (MIPA)
- Animal Husbandry (Pigs, chickens, laying hens, & more)
- Coffee Production
- Crop Diversification
- Rural Ag Entrepreneurship
CaTec Module: Land Surveying
Fabretto has developed short training modules that can be included in CaTec courses or offered as standalone workshops.
The Digital Tools for Land Survey module was first created in 2025 through the volunteer work of Dara Adamolekun, a Harvard student. The program grew from the need to help farmers meet new EU standards for exporting coffee to Europe. This learning-by-doing module trains youth to use digital tools to map land and demonstrate that farmers have not contributed to deforestation. The program empowers youth to assist local farmers in complying with EU requirements for exportation.
Read more about CaTec’s Impact
Learn more about the impact of CaTec on our blog.
