This project, led by Agustin Porres at the Varkey Foundation, seeks to support Community Araucaria in its engagement with Latin American policy makers. The project team plans to do so through a series of activities designed to provide policy leaders with the opportunity to develop their own character strengths and skills; to learn about cutting-edge research and practical innovations; and to engage with researchers, practitioners, and thought leaders working on character education and related initiatives.

An initiative of the Varkey Foundation, the main objective of Community Araucaria is to promote educational transformation through the creation of a community of provincial and state ministers of Education from Latin America. The community works across the three pillars of professional development, exploration and articulation. First, it seeks to provide training in skills and capacities that will enable policy leaders to think globally and act locally, through engagement with expert-led learning opportunities. Second, it seeks to provide policy leaders with the opportunity to explore innovative approaches to transforming education. Finally, it seeks to provide opportunities to connect with experts from diverse fields in education, as well as multilateral organizations and other thought leaders.

The community’s inaugural event in January 2023 brought together 25 ministers from Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, Uruguay and Ecuador for three days of learning and networking opportunities. The ministers participated in an executive learning program at Georgetown University, engaged in dialogue with representatives from the US Department of Education, World Bank, InterAmerican Development Bank, Brookings, and other thought leaders in education, and visited the US school system. During this meeting, ministers demonstrated a strong interest in character education tools and resources, asking for guidance on how to best incorporate these programs into learning curriculum, and also signaling interest in building their character strengths as leaders in order to best serve their constituents. This project will address these interests.