A. M. 
Alonso Zuniga / Photographer / Producer
The Government of El Salvador, UNESCO and Huawei, a global leader in information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure and smart devices, successfully kicked off the Semillas para el Futuro 2024 Summit to be held in El Salvador from august 26-31. The event brought together more than 130 outstanding students from across Latin America and the Caribbean who have excelled in Huawei’s Semillas para el Futuro program.
The summit was attended by the president of the Legislative Assembly of El Salvador, Ernesto Castro, and the minister of Education, Mauricio Pineda, who offered words of welcome and support for the future of education in the country. Also in attendance were the minister of Culture, Raúl Castillo, Minister of Tourism, Morena Valdez, Alexander Leicht, Director of the UNESCO Office in San José, Costa Rica, and prominent Huawei executives in Latin America. Also present at the event were representatives from GSMA LATAM, ANUIES, the International Youth Organization for Ibero-America, the National Telecommunications Institute of Brazil, as well as delegates from organizations and universities in Peru, Argentina, Jamaica and Bolivia.
“Technology is undoubtedly transforming our lives. It is essential that future generations acquire the digital skills needed for this new world. The private sector, in that sense, is a key factor for young people to develop their digital talent. From the Legislative Assembly we will work to promote these skills that will allow the development of a stronger national economy”, Ernesto Castro, President of the Legislative Assembly of El Salvador.
Mauricio Pineda, minister of Education of El Salvador, said: “As technological advances drive globalization and digital transformation, we remain committed to promoting innovative education, technology offers new educational opportunities for all and offers enormous possibilities to transform education at all age levels”.
During this week, students will participate in a series of enriching activities. They will receive intensive training on the latest trends in the ICT sector, compete in the Tech4Good challenge focused on sustainable solutions, attend leadership sessions on the digital future, experience intercultural exchange and establish 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, noted that “UNESCO sees this summit as a great opportunity to promote the development of ICT talent in the Americas and to make this issue even more relevant in government agendas. We firmly believe that equitable and inclusive access to quality education that integrates technologies for talent development, with a vision of peace and humanism, is a key driver of sustainable growth and human development. We also appreciate this collaboration with Huawei and the Ministry of Education of El Salvador, as an essential step towards a more prosperous and inclusive future for all people”.
Semillas para el Futuro is Huawei’s flagship global corporate social responsibility program, available in several regions where the company has a presence. 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 fostering cultural exchange and entrepreneurship.
“We have been practicing our mission in the Latin America and Caribbean region for more than 25 years, with our industry partners, universities, organizations and local governments through various programs that promote ICT knowledge transfer, soft skills development and critical thinking of talented young people. We will continue to invest in co-innovation and drive industry success. In particular for the Semillas para el Futuro program, we will continue our commitment to create opportunities for more students in this region”, explained Daniel Ding, Vice President of Huawei Central America and the Caribbean.
In 2008, Huawei launched the Semillas para el Futuro program and, in july 2021, Semillas para el Futuro 2.0 (SEEDS), which pledges $150 million in funding through 2026 to help improve the digital skills of college students and youth, is expected to help more than 3 million additional beneficiaries.
The Latin America and Caribbean Semillas para el Futuro 2024 summit joined Huawei’s various initiatives in Latin America, including partnerships with local governments, ICT academies and talent programs. 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.
