March 2017 Fuerza Trip

This spring, six Dartmouth students and alumni traveled to El Rosario to run the annual Fuerza para el Futuro leadership development program for local youth. Program participants learned important skills they need to be future leaders in their communities and were given the chance to implement those skills. Fuerza students created and presented educational skits and posters regarding the safe use of agricultural chemicals to local farmers, a project that complements the ACTS pesticide safety program now in development. Students also gave back to their community by painting the regional education center and health clinic. In addition, a new program called Fuerza Arriba was launched this year which gave veteran Fuerza students the opportunity to become the teachers. These eleven Fuerza Arriba “teachers in training” led Fuerza workshops for children and youth in the communities of Los Planes, Los Oreros and La Reinada.

Fuerza students present a skit on pesticide safety.

Fuerza students engage in team building exercises.

Fuerza students create educational posters on safe pesticide handling.

Fuerza students and a pesticide safety poster.

Fuerza students present pesticide handling posters to farmers.

Fuerza Arriba team that assisted with men’s cancer screening.