Students with disabilities face exclusion and bullying in schools throughout Bolivia, with educators being unequipped to address the challenges students face. Through collaboration facilitated by the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) Fellowship Program, two organizations working to improve inclusive pedagogy in the country participated in the Outbound Exchange to expand on existing efforts that bridge this knowledge gap. 

The Young Leader of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) Fellowship Program connects U.S. businesses and organizations with 280 entrepreneurs from across Latin America, the Caribbean, and Canada for a unique exchange of knowledge, ideas, and innovation. During the four-week in-person portion of the program, Fellows collaborate with U.S. host businesses, called Fellowship Placement Organizations (FPOs), on projects fostering professional and personal growth.

Building on this collaboration, U.S. FPOs continue engaging with YLAI alumni through the Outbound Exchange Program by working on impactful projects that expand regional networks and increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and neighboring countries. Since the launch of the Outbound Exchange in 2015, 260 U.S. participants have travelled to 37 countries in the Western Hemisphere, with 30 participants heading to 19 countries in 2024.  In Bolivia, the collaboration between Learning Dimensions and Voces Vitales led to the advancement of holistic educational systems which prioritize the development of students’ intellectual, emotional, social, physical, artistic, creative and spiritual potential.

Cultivating a humanitarian approach to education in Bolivia

Driven by the desire to continue his mother’s legacy of inclusion for all children, YLAI alum Luca Prudencio Flores followed her footsteps as the general manager at Voces Vitales, an innovative school in La Paz, Bolivia. Through the YLAI program, Luca connected with his FPO, Learning Dimensions, a U.S.-based educational consultant company in Chicago, Illinois. From this collaboration, Luca was able to access professional development opportunities, networking events, and developed partnerships in the United States. Luca also created a program design for Learning Dimensions’ U.S. clients, including mission, vision, logic model, program offerings, and program outcomes. In addition, Learning Dimensions benefitted from this partnership by discovering the intersections between educational systems in Bolivia and the U.S. and considering ways to expand their services to the benefit of Latin American countries facing similar challenges in the educational space.

After their fruitful exchange in the U.S., Luca worked with Learning Dimensions’ CEO Monica Swope and Research Consultant Courtney Madl to extend their educational partnership into Bolivia. Luca and the Learning Dimensions team took their expertise in inclusive pedagogy and innovative learning solutions to help ensure that all students, including those with disabilities and those who have experienced bullying, are provided with equitable and comprehensive educational opportunities designed to meet their unique needs. 

During the exchange in Bolivia, Monica and Courtney met with Voces Vitales’ community partners to identify key challenges and develop a strategic workplan to address the primary issues facing the school. After creating the workplan, Monica and Courtney facilitated a three-day professional development training for educators on instructional techniques that tailor instructions to all students’ learning needs. Topics explored during the training included motivation and behavior management, working with families, use of technology in the classroom, and mental health. After these trainings, the educators in attendance demonstrated a holistic and nuanced understanding of concepts such as Differentiated Instruction and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles through situational-judgment assessments and scenario-based comprehension. Incorporated into their existing curriculum, educators were better able to address the unique challenges faced by students with disabilities, such as motivating learners, addressing mental health concerns, and leveraging technology to support diverse learners. 

Cross-cultural learning and information sharing as a key ingredient to inclusive educational practices

By participating in the Outbound Exchange program, Monica and Courtney also learned about existing challenges facing Bolivian public education. Drawing upon the best practices and prevalent methodologies shared by Voces Vitales faculty and staff, Monica and Courtney developed a greater understanding of international education practices by examining the challenges faced by educators in Bolivia. This holistic cross-cultural knowledge exchange and alliance not only strengthened the existing partnership between Learning Dimensions and Voces Vitales, but also contributed to building the foundation for greater recognition of social, ethical, and academic needs in educational practices within the region. 

Looking ahead, the two organizations will sustain their partnership by establishing long-term collaboration goals that align with both organizations. Learning Dimensions will provide ongoing trainings for the Voces Vitales Board pertaining to marketing and brand strategy, to strengthen organizational capacity. Additionally, they have plans to launch a joint collaboration to create nationwide professional development and curricular implementation of “peace classrooms” in Bolivia. Soon, they will present their research on a real-world example of how Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) can positively impact student development at the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) Conference. Made possible through the YLAI Fellowship Program Outbound Exchange grant and implemented by IREX, the collaboration between Learning Dimensions and Voces Vitales enables educators to foster a dynamic and impactful educational environment for students, empowers students of all backgrounds, and cultivates a more inclusive and just world. 

“Every bridge we have built together is a step towards inclusive education, a sustainable future and a more equitable world. [...] Together, we are Voces Vitales and thank you for continuing to weave dreams, sow hope and reap impact - may our collaboration continue to grow and project toward a brighter horizon!”  Patricia Flores, Principal of Voces Vitales

The YLAI Fellowship Program supports Fellows from across Latin America, the Caribbean and Canada in their mission of addressing social challenges faced in their communities across a variety of industries, such as community development, education, and environmental issues. Interested in collaborating with and learning from leading entrepreneurs in the Western Hemisphere? We encourage U.S. organizations partnering with the YLAI Fellowship Program to participate in future iterations of the Outbound Exchange.

Funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), and implemented by IREX, the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) Fellowship Program is the flagship program for emerging entrepreneurs and business leaders from the Western Hemisphere. To learn more about YLAI, visit YLAI.state.org!