Government of El Salvador, UNESCO and Huawei hold successful Seeds for the Future 2024 Summit

• More than 130 outstanding students from Latin America and the Caribbean are in El Salvador taking part in a leadership camp and the Tech4Good competition.
• Seeds for the Future is Huawei’s flagship global corporate social responsibility programme, available in several regions where the company operates.
• The multinational has committed 150 million dollars in funding until 2026 to help improve the digital skills of university students and young people.

San Salvador, 26 August 2024. The Government of El Salvador, UNESCO and Huawei, a global leader in information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure and smart devices, successfully opened the Seeds for the Future 2024 Summit, taking place in El Salvador from 26 to 31 August. The event brought together more than 130 students from across Latin America and the Caribbean who have excelled in Huawei’s Seeds for the Future programme.

The summit was attended by the President of El Salvador’s Legislative Assembly, Ernesto Castro, and the Minister of Education, Mauricio Pineda, who gave words of welcome and support for the future of education in the country. Also present were the Minister of Culture, Raúl Castillo; the Minister of Tourism, Morena Valdez; Alexander Leicht, Director of the UNESCO Office in San José, Costa Rica; and senior Huawei executives from Latin America. Representatives of GSMA LATAM, ANUIES, the International Youth Organisation for Ibero-America and Brazil’s National Telecommunications Institute also attended, as well as delegates from organisations and universities in Peru, Argentina, Jamaica and Bolivia.

“Technology undoubtedly transforms our lives. It is essential that future generations acquire the digital skills they need for this new world. In this regard, the private sector is a key factor in helping young people develop their digital talent. At the Legislative Assembly we will work hand in hand to promote these skills, which will enable a stronger national economy to develop,” said Ernesto Castro, President of El Salvador’s Legislative Assembly.

For his part, Mauricio Pineda, El Salvador’s Minister of Education, said: “As technological advances drive globalisation and digital transformation, we remain committed to promoting innovative education. Technology offers new educational opportunities for everyone and enormous possibilities to transform education at every age.”

During the week, the students will take part in a series of enriching activities. They will receive intensive training on the latest ICT trends, compete in the Tech4Good challenge focused on sustainable solutions, attend leadership sessions on the digital future, experience cultural exchange and build valuable professional contacts. The Tech4Good competition, in particular, challenges participants to develop innovative solutions to pressing social and environmental problems in the region.

Alexander Leicht, Director of the UNESCO Regional Office for Colombia, Central America and Mexico, said: “UNESCO sees this summit as a great opportunity to boost the development of ICT talent in the Americas and to give this issue even greater prominence on government agendas. We firmly believe that fair and inclusive access to quality education that integrates technology for talent development, with a vision of peace and humanism, is a key driver of sustainable growth and human development. We also value this collaboration with Huawei and El Salvador’s Ministry of Education as an essential step towards a more prosperous and inclusive future for all“.

Seeds for the Future is Huawei’s flagship global corporate social responsibility programme, available in several regions where the company operates. Since its launch in Latin America in 2014, it has benefited more than 2,100 students in 20 countries in the region, providing training in cutting-edge technologies and encouraging cultural exchange and entrepreneurship.

“We have been carrying out our mission in Latin America and the Caribbean for more than 25 years, together with our industry partners, universities, organisations and local governments, through programmes that promote ICT knowledge transfer and the development of soft skills and critical thinking among talented young people. We will keep investing in joint innovation and driving the success of the industry. In particular, through Seeds for the Future, we will continue our commitment to creating opportunities for more students in this region,” explained Daniel Ding, Vice President of Huawei Central America and the Caribbean.

Huawei launched Seeds for the Future in 2008 and, in July 2021, Seeds for the Future 2.0 (SEEDS), which pledges 150 million dollars in funding until 2026 to help improve the digital skills of university students and young people and is expected to help more than 3 million additional beneficiaries.

The Seeds for the Future 2024 Latin America and Caribbean Summit adds to Huawei’s many initiatives in Latin America, including partnerships with local governments, ICT academies and talent programmes. These efforts aim to create a comprehensive ICT ecosystem that fosters mutual benefit and responds to the growing demand for skilled professionals in the region.