Costa Rica
Meeting Bernardo Toro
At the beginning of August, we were kindly visited by the renowned philosopher and international Colombian speaker Bernardo Toro and president of the AVINA Foundation, who shared a workshop with the Monge Foundation team.
The session was aimed at exchanging knowledge and experiences to improve our results in this highway to happiness we are mapping out for our “SOY CAMBIO” students
Companies Welcomed 50 CARSI-SOY CAMBIO Students
On July 8th, 50 scholarship holders from the province of Puntarenas visited Western Union and Samtec (located in Lindora and in Alajuela, respectively) so they could learn more about the processes that take place within these companies and the career options with a higher demand in the labor market.
Lectures, tours and activities with a recreational approach were part of the components of these visits included within the “Employability” module of our “SOY CAMBIO” program.
Fundación Monge y CARSI impulsan modelo de Empleabilidad
En Noviembre pasado, la Iniciativa de Seguridad Regional en Centroamérica (CARSI, por sus siglas en inglés) le otorgó a Fundación Monge una subvención de $210.000 para que implemente en este 2017 un modelo de empleabilidad juvenil en la región educativa Grande de Térraba, en la zona sur del país. Gracias a ello, 50 estudiantes becados por “Soy Cambio” recibirán -durante dos años- formación en inglés, capacitación en habilidades socioemocionales, construcción de proyecto de vida y emprendedurismo. Agradecemos al Sr. Fitzgerald Haney, Embajador de los Estados Unidos en nuestro país, quien junto al personal de la Embajada y en presencia de otras organizaciones ganadoras del GRANT, realizó la premiación en las oficinas corporativas de Grupo Monge en Escazú.
Talleres y Campamentos SOY CAMBIO
Todos los años, realizamos una serie de talleres con estudiantes “Soy Cambio” de noveno año en adelante. En ellos abordamos diferentes temas como: Autoestima, Ser Humano Integral, Intereses y Habilidades, Comunicación Asertiva y Marca Personal, a través de actividades lúdicas que invitan a la reflexión e involucran una activa participación de los muchachos. Como parte de este módulo, “Más Allá del Cole”, también realizamos un campamento con los estudiantes que están por finalizar la secundaria para hacer una recopilación de lo aprendido y reflexionar de cómo pueden aplicarlo en sus estudios superiores o futuros trabajos.
The Monge Foundation and the Crece Latinoamérica Foundation
join forces to strengthen the “SOY CAMBIO” Program
The Monge Foundation and the Crece Latinoamérica Foundation –implementing branch of the social responsibility programs offered by the Foreign Trade Bank of Latin America, Inc. (Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S.A., [Bladex, as per the Spanish acronym]), have joined efforts to make it possible for the beneficiaries of the Monge Foundation’s “SOY CAMBIO” Student Leadership and Employability Program scholarship to have more and better tools and opportunities to improve their employability profile.
This alliance will intensify the financial investment destined to train students in regards to socio emotional abilities, which will be key factors when entering and successfully remaining within the job market.
“For the Monge Foundation it is a great honor for the Bladex Bank Crece Latinoamérica Foundation to have become one our donating parties and allies. We will secure your trust by improving the education processes of our scholarship beneficiaries in order to expand and improve their chances to obtain high-demand jobs in the short-term”, said Byron Salas, Executive Director of the Monge Foundation.
The Monge Foundation’s “SOY CAMBIO” initiative currently supports 1,075 students from Costa Rica and 450 from Nicaragua.
Nicaragua
I Campamento SOY CAMBIO Nicaragua
Entre el 20 y 21 de julio pasados, 60 estudiantes nicaragüenses asistieron al I Campamento “Soy Cambio” en el Centro de Espiritualidad Padre Luis Amigó (CEPLA). Los jóvenes becados son estudiantes de carreras técnicas como Tecnología de Alimentos y Mecánica Industrial en Fundación Victoria. Durante la actividad, realizaron actividades lúdicas y de mucha reflexión; además, recibieron charlas sobre temas como Autoestima, Liderazgo y Trabajo en Equipo.
Becados reciben formación en inglés
Un total de 92 estudiantes de nuestro programa de Liderazgo y Empleabilidad: “SOY CAMBIO” fueron elegidos para cursar un técnico en inglés en el Centro Cultural Nicaragüense.
Ellos cursan el noveno, décimo y onceavo grado en escuelas de las comunidades de León, San Rafael del Sur, Nagarote, Managua, Tipitapa y Ciudad Sandino.
A inicios del mes de junio, recibieron su primer certificado de aprobación tras completar el 1 de 14 niveles que conforman el curso.
Talleres “Soy Cambio”
Más de 300 estudiantes nicaragüenses han participado de los talleres que, como parte del módulo “Más Allá del Cole” se ofrecen a nuestros becados de 9, 10 y 11 grado, con el objetivo de que ellos puedan reconocer sus fortalezas y mejorar su perfil de empleabilidad. A través de charlas y actividades lúdicas con los muchachos, hemos compartido conocimiento y experiencias en temas diversos como Autoestima, Proyecto de Vida, Resolución de Conflictos e Inteligencia Emocional.

Estíbaliz Rodríguez
Generation: “Soy Cambio-UNESCO”
CTP de OSA
“Just like all of you, I have dreams, goals and objectives…And thank God and the SOY CAMBIO team, many of my aspirations are coming true. Being part of this program has changed a big part of my life, has allowed me to reconsider my abilities and capabilities, but above all, it has made me want to be a better person and let go of my fears”.

Luz Marina Narváez
Generación: “Soy Cambio-CARSI”
Technical Professional High School of Puntarenas (Colegio Técnico Profesional de Puntarenas)
“Both CARSI and the Monge Foundation have meant a great deal in my life; not only because of how much the economic support has changed my family but also because the program has taught me to go out into the world as a prepared person, with a clearer vision of what I am and what I want to become”.

Arline Mora Arroyo
Generation: ACCESS
Luis Dobles Segreda High School (Liceo Luis Dobles Segreda [Sabana Este])
“I am extremely grateful to the people who so lovingly took time and shared with us such wonderful experiences…You have built our dreams and given us so much support because you have believed in us and connected us to other people with inspirational stories. Thank you, Monge Foundation!”

Leidy Villegas
Former Monge Foundation Beneficiary
Position: Regional Operational Assistant (Acquisitions Department)
“The Monge Foundation has been a great opportunity for me. Thanks to them I have not only benefitted from financial support, I have also found a second family, a support system and friends always willing to listen to me, help me and instruct me…”SOY CAMBIO” allowed me to make my dreams come true, be successful and obtain the tools to advance in life. Today I am working for this great company, something for which I am deeply proud and grateful.

Bernardo Toro
Colombian philosopher, international speaker, President of the AVINA Foundation and strategic partner of the Monge Foundation. “To be leaders we must first become citizens with the capacity to build collective solutions within collective systems…You have taken on this responsibility and must continue shaping these students on the basis of the dignity, understanding, solidarity and the strong institutional structure they want to live in to be happy human beings”.

Aimy Villalobos Cascante
Generation: ULEAD
Graduated Soy Cambio
“Fundación Monge made me a fighter, someone with a thirst for learning and making a difference… For me, it’s an organization that has given me countless opportunities to overcome my shortcomings under the conviction that no dream is too big if you fight to reach it”.

Abdul Vallecillos Cabrera
Generation: SOY CAMBIO
Liceo Edgar Cervantes Villalta (Hatillo)
“For me, these past three years as a Fundación Monge scholar have been the best in my life. So many experiences, opportunities and workshops shared with others… You have taught me that economic status doesn’t matter because there’s always a way out and that even if the dream seems too big, it can be achieved through perseverance and hard work”.