who we are?
our story
Our story began back in 2009 when two young activists responded to the urgent need of Central America’s youth to learn the skills needed to confront mounting injustices and growing uncertainty as a result of rising inequality and climate change. Using education and leadership as main tools, we started a process to engage and mobilize young people to take action.
For those who are curious, the name SERES stands for Social Equity, Resilience and Ecological Sustainability.
our purpose
Our mission is to cultivate and catalyze youth leaders to build more just and sustainable communities in Guatemala and El Salvador.
Young people become influential and impactful leaders. By providing them with resources, skills, and support services, we encourage active engagement towards improving health and educational outcomes, reducing inequality, and spurring economic growth – all while building resilience and protecting our ecosystems.
Together, they form a movement of leaders who drive sustainability and democracy, who are involved in decision making, addressing social challenges, and creating new solutions. They are changing the course of their communities.
Connect. Create. Change.
our values
Our values are like our DNA - an intrinsic and fundamental part of our identity.
dedication & impact
We do everything possible to achieve our objectives and goals, always working for a purpose. We recognize that impact is achieved through collective actions to achieve the transformation we seek.
authenticity & integrity
We lead by example, behaviors based on sustainability, idealism, creativity, passion, ingenuity, flexibility, and diversity.
well-being & wholeness
We are driven by fun, meaning, and friendship, and we feel comfortable sharing our personal needs with others.
radical collaboration mindset
We proactively seek to collaborate with others, a collaboration based on trust and compatibility of mutual needs. We are motivated by the belief that the transformative impact for the lives of youth is to create an ecosystem of support and support around them, attending to the needs that emerge from them and we only achieve this with other partners/allies.
learning culture
We promote an open mind to lead change, be ambitious, be brave, dare to doubt yourself and enjoy the right to fail, as a path to innovation.
appreciative leadership
We practice inquiry, enlightenment, inclusion, inspiration, and integrity as a model of leadership.
Experience has taught us to build deep connections within the communities, empowering real change rather than spreading ourselves across many regions without the same level of impact.
We work with incredible young leaders between the age of 15 - 30 years old, from urban and rural communities where we have learned to develop trust based relationships.
By spending quality time in the communities, working to understand strengths and challenges we have been able to design and run programs that address their specific needs.