Ensena por Argentina in underprivileged schools

In 2013, at the age of 21, Florencia graduated with a degree in International Relations from Universidad del Salvador (USAL). She later specialized in International Law, focusing on rights in humanitarian crisis zones and training for the United Nations Peacekeepers. She dreamed of becoming a war correspondent in Haiti or joining peace negotiation processes in the Middle East. However, when she completed her studies at 22, she did not yet meet the minimum age requirement to take the entrance exams for the Foreign Ministry.

While she waited, Florencia received an email from Enseñá por Argentina inviting her to apply for the Collective Leadership Program. She was captivated by the opportunity, as it offered teaching practice in schools located in vulnerable areas. She left her job at a law firm, applied to the program, and while awaiting the results, traveled to Peru to hike the Inca Trail. In the middle of this adventure, she received the news of her selection. Upon her return, with barely a few hours of rest, she found herself at her first seminar class at 8 a.m. Among the 33 professionals selected were doctors, accountants, engineers—yet no teachers. They all shared the conviction that change began in the classroom, where they could impact society and transform the world.

For two years, Florencia taught in underprivileged schools that were unfamiliar to her, facing major challenges. She was assigned to a school in San Fernando, where she taught upper-year students. Although it was difficult for her to keep students focused due to the lack of school culture and a complex school environment, she persevered. She also practiced at a school in Villa Rosa, Pilar, where, along with three other Professionals of Enseñá por Argentina, she worked with different classes. They developed a strong bond with the senior students, organizing negotiation and communication workshops in the afternoons, drawing in even those students who would sometimes miss their morning classes.

In 2017, Florencia moved to Rosario, where she continued teaching in both public and private schools until a new opportunity came her way. She is currently the General Director of a school located in a neighborhood on the outskirts of Rosario. She assumed this role in November 2021, leading the school’s opening, building the teaching team, and inviting local students to join. Today, the school serves 130 families and has a team of 20 teachers.

"As a principal, I want the kids and their families to know that their lives matter to us. We set the academic bar high because we have great expectations for them. That’s something I learned as a PExA (Professional of Enseñá por Argentina) in 2014, and it has shaped my career profoundly: the certainty that all kids can learn a great deal."

Her students already show signs of improvement in both academic performance and overall engagement. The school boasts a remarkable 90% attendance rate, and 80% of the students are achieving scores classified as good or very good on standardized tests. Additionally, 80% of the students are on track to become the first generation in their families to graduate from high school, showcasing not only individual success but also a significant impact on the community's educational landscape.

For Florencia, change is possible, and every day, with commitment and creativity, she and her team build an education that transforms lives.

Juan Chalbaud, a 37-year-old industrial engineer, discovered his passion for social transformation in northern Chaco. His journey began at the age of 17 when a missionary experience connected him with the rural communities of that region and sparked his desire to contribute to local development. Seeking ways to realize this dream, Juan joined the Collective Leadership Program of Enseñá por Argentina in 2013. The program provided him with the tools and confidence to work alongside rural communities:

“At Enseñá por Argentina, I acquired the tools, skills, sense of possibility, and also the deep belief in working collectively with rural communities. Because I am convinced that I cannot change anyone by myself, but we can all transform if we start sharing our lives together.”

Juan completed the program in Buenos Aires and then moved to Chaco with these communities to found Monte Adentro in 2014: an NGO that promotes community projects in northern Chaco. Monte Adentro has positively impacted hundreds of rural families in areas such as education, sports, health, trades, and community strengthening. Thanks to his work, more than 400 students have access to school support, more than 300 people participate in trade workshops, more than 200 families have internet access, and more than 1,000 people receive medical care.

“Monte Adentro is Mirta and Santa, two women over 35 years old who returned to primary school after 20 years. They are teenagers who worked in the fields and went back to high school. They are women who used to stay at home but now gather in trade workshops and sell their products. They are teenagers who traveled outside the fields for the first time with the sports club they founded. They are the three new associations of rural families that are now creating their own projects.”

Juan's commitment to the integral development of these areas was recognized in 2019 when he was chosen as Flag Bearer of the Year, a prestigious award given by the Noble Foundation to the most altruistic Argentines.

The ties between Monte Adentro and Enseñá por Argentina remain strong to this day: in 2023, Noelí and Gise, two young women who completed their academic training at Monte Adentro, graduated from the Collective Leadership Program, becoming alumni. This means that through the development of their leadership, they will continue to impact systemic transformation.