Since 2011, Belgrano Day School has partnered with the Germinare Foundation, an organization dedicated to providing high-quality educational opportunities to talented and highly motivated children and young people from low-income backgrounds. Through its Agents of Change program, Germinare supports these students as they transition from primary school to outstanding secondary schools, where they gain access to an education that opens the door to new opportunities and challenges.
What is the Agents of Change Program?
The Agents of Change program offers a unique opportunity to students in the second-to-last year of primary school. After a selection process, participants begin an academic bridging course that provides them with the skills and knowledge needed to gain admission to a high-quality secondary school. During the 14-month program, students receive more than 700 hours of academic support in key subjects such as Mathematics, Language Arts, Social Studies, English, and Debate, along with Personal Growth workshops designed to strengthen their self-confidence and equip them with valuable life skills.
Once they are admitted to their chosen school, the support continues throughout their entire secondary education, both for the students and their families, helping ensure a successful transition and long-term success.
BDS’s Involvement
Belgrano Day School’s commitment to Germinare goes beyond providing access to education. The School also opens its facilities each summer to host the training sessions organized by the foundation. In addition, through its Community Service Bridges program, Middle & Senior students in their final year work alongside Germinare students enrolled in the bridging course by leading oral English activities that help them build fluency and confidence in public speaking situations. These sessions include games, recreational activities, and mentoring opportunities led by rotating groups of BDS student volunteers. Beyond strengthening language skills, these interactions foster meaningful connections between students from diverse backgrounds and reinforce a strong sense of community.
To date, four students have completed their secondary education at Belgrano Day School thanks to this initiative. All of them graduated with distinction: Martina Belén Fernández Meza (currently studying Economics at the University of Buenos Aires), Paulina Cortez Rojas, Lola Cook (both studying Law at the University of Buenos Aires), and Nicolás Turza, who is currently studying Medicine at the University of Buenos Aires.
Currently, four students at Belgrano Day School were admitted through Germinare scholarships and are enrolled in different Middle & Senior year groups.
An Impact Beyond Secondary Education
Many Agents of Change graduates join the Alumni Network, an initiative that supports young people as they transition to higher education or enter the workforce. More than 80% of Germinare graduates are part of this network, and nearly 97% are either pursuing or have already completed university or tertiary-level studies.
Over the years, the partnership between Belgrano Day School and the Germinare Foundation has proven to be a vital platform for the personal and academic growth of these students. This joint initiative demonstrates the power of education to transform lives and develop future agents of change within our society.
