Educate
Agricultural-technical training for entrepreneurial youth 



In the Ayacuchan Andes, the flight of promising youth from the countryside to the city is an increasing problem.
In the city, whilst chances of work are bigger, living conditions aren’t always better. At Solid we try to help these youngsters through skills training and promoting entrepreneurship, so that they, themselves, can create better opportunities in the countryside and obtain a higher quality of life.
Because they are the future!  
The JOVEM project

3 years technical study program

Practical, hands-on training at Solid's Montefino farm.

Becoming an entrepreneur

Financial insights, and business knowledge. 

Focus on personal development

Workshops and individual coaching throughout the whole program.

Focus on ecology and sustainability

Sustainable use of energy, soil and water.

 


Jovem is a 3-year agricultural-technical training course for entrepreneurial youth, age 15 to 23. Taking place at the weekends, Solid provides the students practical, hands-on training in a variety of agricultural techniques, at Solid's integral Montefino farm. Students are also strengthened in entrepreneurship skills and their personal development. Following the training, the students are equipped to start their own businesses and thrive independently. Becoming successful business owners from a young age they inspire their teachers, parents and communities and aspire to a better future, on the countryside.

Ecological sustainability is a core aspect of the training, woven in throughout. Topics such as sustainable soil management, the avoidance of erosion, sustainable water and energy use, sorting, recycling, compost use, environmentally friendly pest management, etc. are fully integrated into the project. Students are encouraged to grow local crops from the Andes, such as cañihau, kiwicha, mama or tarwi but also discover that strawberries and roses can be grown at over 3000 m.a.s.l.


Read more in our impact reports
208
students entered the program since  the start of the project
96%
of graduates have a profitable business.
70%
of students improve their self esteem, assertiveness and self-confidence.

The Montefino farm


The Jovem project takes place at Montefino stable, a model farm and training institute for farmers that was established by Solid. It is situated on the roof of the Andes at an altitude of 3,800 meters and is a real “granja integral”, or integrated farm.  A sustainable farm bringing together different animals (including dairy cows, pigs, guinea pigs, alpacas and chickens) with a variety of crops, plants and flowers (like roses, strawberries, blueberries and local organic quinoa, cañihua, kiwicha and tarwi).

The farm is also home to beehives, trout ponds and a composting area. At Montefino, they are proud of their new, modern cheese factory where the farm’s own fresh milk is used in production. The cheese - Gouda, Edam, Mozzarella, Queso Paria and Queso Fresco (a type of soft cheese typical to Peru) - and the yoghurt are sold locally, under the name of ‘Montefino’, and were nationally rewarded in 2020.

Montefino makes a point of being an inspiring example of an integrated, global, sustainable and ecological farm.