Mundo de Talentos
Mundo de Talentos offers vocational training to children between 10 and 13 years old in the states of Chiapas and Oaxaca in the South of Mexico. As a non-profit, we introduce children to interesting professions and study subjects through an intensive two-year program held each Saturday. Passionate professionals (volunteers) share their work experiences and invite children to learn in a participative manner about possible career opportunities. The project motivates the inclusion, curiosity, and empathy of children, by sharing real-life experiences in subjects as diverse as philosophy, medicine, the arts, biology, architecture, journalism and many others.
The main focus of the project caters to children from low-income families who would otherwise not have access to vocational training. Therefore, participation is free, apart from a small transportation fee when required. As a result, Mundo de Talentos primarily serves public school students.
The duration of the program extends for a two year cycle. Upon which, students will obtain a graduation certificate and become part of Mundo de Talentos Alumni. Every year two new generations of 40 students start.
We strive to implement an inspiring, diverse, and above all, fun program that encourages youth to continue developing themselves and become active and empathetic citizens.
General objective of the project
Mundo de Talentos contributes to the personal and professional development of Mexican youth. We take into account the strengthening of their self-esteem, and the improvement of their sense of belonging in society. By providing firsthand experience, Mundo de Talentos, strives to make life and career goals a more tangible reality for the students, so that they can better dictate the outcome of their futures inside the community and beyond.
Expansion
During October and November 2022, Mundo de Talentos implemented a pilot in Oaxaca City in the state of Oaxaca. The pilot was fully funded by financial and educational partner Hotel con Corazón. Museo Infantil de Oaxaca (MIO) offers us its facilities. The alliance with MIO guarantees an excellent implementation of the activities at very inspiring location.
The pilot consisted of 8 sessions. An introduction, 6 sessions with guest teachers and a final session. 20 students from 4 different public primary schools participated.
After a very positive evaluation we officially opened a second Mundo de Talentos branch in Oaxaca City from January 2023. The 20 students that participated in the pilot continued. In September 2023 a new group of 40 students started. In total 60 students are participating in the program in Oaxaca City during school year 2023-2024. Hotel con Corazón will stay involved as financial and educational partner.
Mundo de Talentos Alumni
In April 2021 the first generation of students of Mundo de Talentos graduated. They received their well deserved Mundo de Talentos diploma and became the first group of Mundo de Talentos Alumni.
After ‘graduating’ alumni connect in a vibrant network: Mundo de Talentos Alumni. Among other activities for self-development, alumni teach the younger generations. Alumni embody the ideals of Mundo de Talentos, ‘learn from your elders;’ ‘pursue your talents,’ and ‘give back.’ Mundo de Talentos Alumni organizes a wide variety of activities, among which trainings, professional communities, and an alumni board. Every year two new generations of 40 students graduate and enter the alumni program. Currently the group of graduates exists of 100 alumni.
Founders
Mundo de Talentos was initiated in 2017 by Laura Baas and Eleni Asimakopoulos. Laura has Dutch nationality and has lived in Chiapas, Mexico since 2010. She has over 15 years experience in the field of social investigation and the defense of human rights in Nicaragua, Bolivia and Mexico. Eleni Asimakopoulos has Dutch nationality and lives and works in Chiapas since the start of Mundo de Talentos in 2019. After graduating from her Bachelor of Social Work in 2006, Eleni has stimulated young people's social and cultural development through different educational projects. She worked at IMC Weekend School for seven years in different positions. Both Laura and Eleni's conviction to help facilitate young people in the choices they make regarding career and life goals led them to launching Mundo de Talentos.
Funding
Mundo de Talentos collaborates with companies, foundations and private donors from all over the world. The confidence and financial support of the Dutch shipbuilding company DAMEN SHIPYARDS, IMC Charitable Foundation and DSM Nutritional Products made possible the official start of the activities of Mundo de Talentos in January 2019. The IMC Charitable Foundation and Damen Shipyards are the first financial partners that committed to the project on the long term. They are of great value for the sustainability of Mundo de Talentos. Other important financial partners are Quálitas, C&A Mexico, The TUI Care Foundation, the Dutch Embassy in Mexico City, the Fiesta Foundation, the Numidia Foundation, Femsa Coca Cola, Hotel con Corazón and the donation platform GlobalGiving.
Other contribution
In addition to financial means, Mundo de Talentos also looks for substantive cooperation by connecting two worlds; our prospective partners and the students looking to be inspired by them. Through various methods such as the utilization of guest teachers, comprehensive educational packages, and adaptable curriculums Mundo de Talentos allows for companies and organizations to obtain a platform to enthuse students about a particular craft or work field. In this way, perspective entities contribute to the development and future prospects of young people in Mexican society.
Global Network
This project takes inspiration from IMC Weekend School based in the Netherlands. Initiated in 1998, the concept of IMC Weekend School has garnered rapid success, and has begun expanding globally with initiatives in Belgium (four branches) Malaysia and Hong Kong, and over thirty Weekend School spin-offs in the Netherlands. Mundo de Talentos is the first sister school on the American continent.
The concept works! In 2009, IMC Weekend School was awarded winner at the Marketplace of Ideas – United Nations Alliance of Civilizations. In 2010, IMC Weekend School was a finalist for the WISE Awards (World Innovation Summit for Education). In 2023 IMC Weekend School will celebrate its 25th anniversary.
Research
In 2013, a scientific longitudinal study was completed, in collaboration with the University of Amsterdam, to investigate whether weekend school participation leads to growth regarding the three cornerstones of IMC Weekend School. The expectation is that its students will increase their self-confidence, broaden their future prospects and feel connected with society by participating in the program.
Comparative research has shown that after three years weekend school students have more general knowledge, self-confidence and are more motivated than their classmates from primary school.
Weekend school alumni are more motivated in life than control groups and consider it important to make a positive contribution to society.
In 2015-2016 a retrospective survey among alumni was conducted in collaboration with the University of Amsterdam and the University of Brussels. Recently (October 2021) these results were published in the scientific journal Children and Youth Services Review (Elsevier).
Weekend school has effectively influence on self-confidence, future prospects, motivation and perseverance.
Participation in weekend school is not simply evaluated positively as a fun way to pass time, but as forming and life-defining.
Mundo de Talentos is working on her own impact research. Because of the pandemic we haven't been able to finish this process. Therefore, we have captured testimonials of our students, their family and guest teachers that reflect the impact of the project. As soon as the context will allow us we will continue our research.
Quotes of participants of Mundo de Talentos
'What I like most about Mundo de Talentos is that they give us the opportunity to get to know different kinds of professions. To have a broad understanding of what we can be when we grow up'. Alumni Emily, 13 years old
'I believe in myself more now, I’m more participative, I became a better teamplayer'. Alumni Valentina, 13 years old
'Many times we want to project the dreams of the parents onto them. That causes that they get blocked in taking decisions. When there are projects like Mundo de Talentos, apart from the family context, they make them broaden their perspectives'. Mother Emily
'I’m very grateful to Mundo de Talentos to give me the opportunity to share and to express my passion for architecture. I think the work of Mundo de Talentos is very important and matters in wanting to open and expand the network and knowledge of the new generations'. Guest teacher Marco A. García
Annual Reports
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