Character education training and networking opportunities are being provided through Community Araucaria.
Agustín Porres and the Varkey Foundation are fostering systemic educational reform across Latin America by engaging political leaders and educators.
By examining the role of character education in improving educational outcomes and Varkey’s initiatives, we can see how systemic change can be achieved through policy-maker engagement.
TWCF had the opportunity to gain insight into the Varkey Foundation’s work from a video interview following an International Educators Funders Group (IEFG) event. Agustín Porres, Regional Director for Latin America at Varkey Foundation, discussed Varkey's concern with education innovation and reform in Latin America.
Teachers are critical to our global future. According to recent research by Varkey Foundation studies have shown that people's perception of the social status of those who teach impacts students’ academic achievement – i.e., the higher the general opinion of teachers, the better pupil performance. Today’s global teaching shortage stems from inefficient training along with a decline in respect for this profession. The Varkey Foundation’s mission is to “ensure that every child gets a good education, by having a good teacher.” Part of how they facilitate this is by celebrating educators, and empowering them through community and training.
The success of the Varkey Foundation’s initiatives hinges on the active involvement of political leaders across Latin America. With TWCF’s support, the Varkey Foundation has engaged ministers of education from Uruguay, Ecuador, Paraguay, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico in Comunidad Araucaria, a training program aimed at helping ministers explore their own character development and the value of character development education. This high-level political backing ensures that teacher training on character development is not only implemented but embedded into regional and national educational strategies, facilitating long-term impact and sustainability. TWCF’s financial support has been instrumental in facilitating these high-level engagements, allowing the Varkey Foundation to create a collaborative environment where educational leaders can exchange best practices and work together to address regional challenges.
A key outcome of the Comunidad Araucaria initiative is the direct link between policy and practice. Political leaders are empowered to support teachers at the grassroots level, creating a ripple effect where trained educators can then influence broader educational reform. This model demonstrates the critical role of political leadership in scaling character education and enhancing teacher performance.
