Carlos F. Novella Foundation, Annual Report 2022.
We develop people for life, work, and peace.Carlos F. Novella Foundation, Annual Report 2022.
2022 was a year of "hybrid" challenges and decreasing but constant, uncertainty. We learned how to use new tools to navigate this "accelerated" uncertainty. We took the best of both worlds (real and virtual) and understood the areas where we needed to strengthen and restructure our Foundation. These adjustments were necessary to continue transforming and improving the lives of those we serve in the best possible way.
We continue evolving with the times, seeking new and better ways of working in different spaces, always with a robust technical base and a delivery that dignifies people. We have strengthened internal processes to serve better, but we still have work to do and I am sure that 2023 will be a year of important progress because the challenges are great.
This is my last Letter from the Presidency after ten years as the head of the Carlos F. Novella Foundation. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the team that has accompanied me throughout this period; I’d also like to highlight their achievements and elevated commitment to the cause, which is the result of working with their hearts in all they do. I believe it is the only way to do the work we do well.
I feel grateful to my team and all of Progreso who support us and have given us space and trust in building together a better place for all. I have witnessed a growing alignment in interests and relationship strengthening from where we have generated powerful synergies. I leave with multiple lessons, good memories, and great friendships.
We have more and more local and international partners in the private sector, social sector, cooperation, and government because we cannot solve complex problems without a collaborative approach that opens opportunities to learn, scale, and share knowledge to generate a larger impact.
I thank God for the opportunity I had to grow as the head of the Foundation. I am grateful for my family’s trust during my time at the helm. I am especially grateful to my uncles, the founders of this great and generous space, that remind us of where we come from. This space transforms the ideas of a visionary, upright, and committed spirit like that of Carlos Federico Novella, his children, and grandchildren, into concrete actions.
Cecilia Dougherty President of the Board of Directors
arlos F. Novella Foundation, Annual Report 2022.
The Carlos F. Novella Foundation began in 1986 as an initiative of the Novella family, to highlight and preserve the pioneering, altruistic, and visionary spirit of Cementos Progreso’s founder, Carlos Federico Novella Klee. He left a great legacy, not only in the business field but also in social projection and commitment to Guatemala.
This commitment to improving our country has been our motivation for more than 36 years. We contribute to the comprehensive development of the areas where we operate while training children, youth, and adults in values.
We improve access, quality, and relevance of formal and flexible education, by designing and developing educational models.
We promote processes that enable local governments, community and religious leaders, parents, and neighbors, to participate directly. They become empowered through a new development dynamic, favoring dialogue as well as free and responsible citizenship.
We implement violence prevention programs, offering safe spaces for training and good use of free time in sports and cultural activities.
The programs and interventions, grouped in our three thematic axes: Childhood, Youth, and Community, take an active role in building individual and collective capacities, generating collaborative links, and creating a shared vision of development.
0.6%
5.65%
We are committed to the Sustainable Development Goals and highlight those we directly contribute to.
Our activities contribute to achieving the National Development Priorities and the National Development Plan K'atun: Our Guatemala 2032.
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Three thematic lines of work, one purpose: To build the country where we all want to live.
We identified 3 lines of work. Each one with different objectives but is related to the comprehensive development of a person and their environment.
We develop each child
We develop life skills and promote responsible citizenship.
We strengthen the community through skill development for life, work, and peace.
We develop each child comprehensively with emphasis between 0 and 8 years of age.
The foundations for learning and development are established with affective nurturing. This is a flexible modality of community management that integrally develops children from 0 to 4 years of age.
As of 2021, a partnership was established with the Ministry of Education to implement the "Acompáñame a Crecer" (Join me as I grow) program as well as the Community Centers for Integral Child Development (CECODII).
This model develops and provides awareness to communities about taking action to benefit early childhood.
The program helps pregnant women and nursing mothers with children under 1 year of age and in groups for children from 2 to 4 years of age, throughout their work day.
330 Mothers were trained in 13 CECODII Community Centers to promote child development and ensure the proper growth during the early childhood stage.
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Integral development of each child includes:
Affective bonding between mother and child.
Timely stimulation.
Nutrition, health and hygiene.
In 2022, leaders and strategic allies were approached to create Community Centers for Comprehensive Early Childhood Care (CECODII). It also included training educating mothers in several communities of El Progreso and San Juan Sacatepéquez. Local leaders identify women who will become educators and implementers.
183 in El Progreso
96 87
221 in San Juan Sacatepéquez
138
Girls
Children cared for during 2022 through the Join Me as I Grow Program Boys
83
Data provided by FCFN Monitoring Unit.
Strengthens learning processes, develops reading skills, and competencies in preschool students, as well as 1st and 2nd graders.
According to the Regional Comparative and Explanatory Study (ERCE 2019) results, grade repetition in Guatemala decreased slightly between 2013 and 2019; however, it still has one of the highest rates in Latin America.
The report also indicates that students who repeat, do not achieve the learning outcomes. The repetition rate is higher for primary school (8.8%) and within this group, it is even higher in the early elementary level, reaching 17.9%
The repetition rate for students who did not attend preschool was 44% and 35.8% for those who did attend.
Setting the Foundation mitigates this problem by providing school accompaniment, reinforcing skills, abilities, and comprehensive competencies that facilitate learning in preschool, first, and second grade.
4 out of 5 Children
Learn better with methodologies that involve play and timely stimulation.
It uses play methodology and accompaniment for parents who are part of the educational triangle. It guarantees school success in the initial school grades for students by implementing School for Parents.
Generates competencies in teachers to strengthen children’s comprehensive development in the initial and pre-school stages, by applying the Setting the Foundation model.
It is being practiced in schools in El Progreso, San Juan Sacatepéquez, and Santo Domingo Xenacoj. Transferring the Setting the Foundation methodology provides daily planning and curricular integration tools. They strengthen teacher’s learning skills and encourage psychomotor development as well as their reading and expression.
The training provides teachers with a space to share and exchange knowledge which contributes to their comprehensive learning.
Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, 449 teachers were trained during 2022.
Applying these tools, children receive adequate attention, reducing failing and dropout rates.
San Juan Sacatepéquez, San Pedro Sacatepéquez, Tecpán, Santo Domingo
Xenacoj, Sumpango, Guastatoya, Sansare, San Antonio La Paz, Sanarate, Morazán, El Jícaro, San Agustín
Acasaguastlán, San Cristóbal Acasaguastlán.
0 to 4 years: Timely musical stimulation.
5 to 12 years old: Violin, piano, or guitar and timely musical stimulation sessions.
7 to 12 years old: Violin, piano, harp, guitar and percussion, violoncello and viola; participation in choirs and solfeggio.
We develop life skills and promote responsible citizenship. arlos
Diplomado de Didáctica de Matemática
The program develops mathematical teaching capabilities in middle school-level teachers through modeling values which include ethical behavior, genuine leadership, solidarity, commitment, and sustainability. These new teaching strategies aim for improved student outcomes.
Designed to help middle-school-level teachers who teach mathematics acquire tools and skills to improve their teaching. This effort began in El Progreso in 2019 and expanded to San Juan Sacatepéquez in 2020.
Due to the pandemic, the program became, which made it possible to reach participants from other areas of Guatemala.
The effort covers arithmetic, algebra, functions, geometry, statistics, probability and ethnomathematics.
In 2022, 62 teachers completed the course virtually, acquiring teaching techniques and tools that they will be able to replicate in their classrooms.
Participants in the Math Learning and Teaching Certificate for teachers in 2022
Teachers received personalized attention and follow-up through WhatsApp groups.
Woman Watch
Article
31 31
Data provided by FCFN Monitoring Unit.
Escuela Sociodeportiva
Training, through sports, in values, interpersonal development, and good use of free time for children and youth from 5 to 17 years of age.
The Carlos F. Novella Foundation, in alliance with Fundación Real Madrid, uses sports (soccer and basketball) as a means to strengthen values in vulnerable children, and youth where living spaces are not the most adequate and safe.
The Socio-sports School is instated to prevent violence. It teaches good use of free time, combined with self-improvement activities related to physical and mental health.
In 2022 we signed a tripartite partnership with Fundación Real Madrid and Millicom Tigo, which provided virtual training on cyberbullying and the correct use of social networks.
The Deputy Director of the Real Madrid Foundation, Iker Casillas, visited and shared with the school’s students for the signing.
We partnered with the IDB on migration prevention issues and opened new offices in Cucajol, Finca El Pilar, Montufar and San Antonio La Paz.
The methodology includes parents, strengthening dialogue and trust in the communities in favor of children and youth, and contributing to forming good citizens.
Coaches promote fair play and experience values. Training sessions develop physical condition and technical-tactical contents of the sport are developed during training sessions.
Skill and habit development that strengthen psycho-biosocial aspects, through training activities. Promotes positive personal, family, and community changes in girls and young women.
Guatemala is the fifth country in the region with the highest number of forced marriages and unions for girls and adolescents, despite the fact that the law prohibits marriages of those under 18 years of age.
Adolescent girls are more exposed in every sense and this limits their life projects and dreams, in contexts of greater exclusion and inequality.
Considering this reality, during 2022 the Step-by-Step process was extended to San Juan Sacatepequez and Santo Domingo Xenacoj.
The commitment of municipal, educational, and religious authorities was important in identifying participants and following up to ensure effective participation from the girls as well as their parents throughout the process.
35 self-esteem, healthy living and communication workshops created awareness in the girls and their parents providing tools enabling them to empower themselves and build a better future.
An educational model to prepare ethical, supportive leaders committed to the development of their environment.
For over 45 years, the private school "Enrique Novella Alvarado" has been a differentiator regarding educational quality for 28 communities of El Progreso and San Juan Sacatepéquez.
The school offers quality education that prioritizes students’ comprehensive schooling by experiencing values in each activity.
This center promotes community progress by graduating outstanding students for the workforce and academics.
To date, 15 graduating classes represented by 363 students have graduated. In 2022, 27% of the graduating class obtained the "Juan Bautista Gutiérrez" university scholarship.
22 Students Graduated Highschool in 2022
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45 years 15 Graduating classes from Highschool
363 Students graduated
1948 CENCA
Children and youth served in 2022 at Private School “Enrique Novella Alvarado” Boys
55% 45%
489 students from: 5 - 12 years
331 158
Data provided by FCFN Monitoring Unit
13 - 18 years
Girls
Brings technology to people in rural areas to positively impact production and productivity.
Learning Islands is a program that addresses lack of access to technology, low schooling, low investment in agricultural innovation, and empirical knowledge in local entrepreneurship.
They are designed to help farmers innovate their greenhouses and improve crops. It also improves entrepreneurship by providing educational resources and personalized advice on how to adopt innovative techniques and improve both production and economics.
It's a practical training, where participants have the opportunity to apply the knowledge to their own crops. It opens the possibility of working on collaborative projects with other farmers and entrepreneurs in the community.
40 entrepreneurs
In 2022, 30 entrepreneurs from San Juan Sacatepéquez and 10 from El Progreso received financial management training through an entrepreneurship course.
39 farmers learned new agricultural techniques that they will be able to apply to their greenhouses and crops. Learning Islands Participants
90 in zona 6
Women
34 56
139 in San Juan Sacatepéquez developed skills and knowledge in financial management.
59 Did not specify
5
347
arlos F. Novella Foundation, Annual Report 2022.
It promotes violence-rejecting behavior, manifests generosity, strengthens peace, and leads to the creative transformation of conflicts through dialogue.
The ability to live in harmony with people and the environment arises from collaboration and harmony; that is, it arises from a culture of peace.
Citizenship Building works with representatives from municipal mayors' offices and Community Development Councils (COCODES) to develop institutional strengthening and positive leadership processes.
Through this activity, young people and adults have been made aware of issues related to citizen participation and education for peace.
In 2022, public-private partnerships increased coverage generating social capital. Individual and collective capacities were developed to achieve twenty-first century competencies through creative awareness, reflection, and education for peace processes.
Sensitization processes in:
-Citizen Participation
-Pedagogical Sensitization
-Peace Education and
-Institutional Strengthening
Offering young people and adults the opportunity to continue their studies focusing on competency development, and fostering within them the modeling of values.
The Carlos F. Novella Foundation created the Estuardo Novella Camacho Educational Center (CENCA), to provide flexible educational alternatives for youth and adults who wish to resume their studies in communities where there isn’t an opportunity to do so.
In Guatemala, the over-age population in the educational system is quite significant. According to MINEDUC figures for 2011, it was 48.47% for primary education; 50.40% in basic education and 50.37% in diversified education.
These figures reflect an alarming situation: most of the people who manage to finish elementary school will not continue middle school and much less high school.
Blanca Ley, 52 years old, decided to resume her studies in the first stage of elementary school.
A higher education level allows them to become community-improvement agents, using their environment to build while solving family and social problems.
Students acquire better skills to access stable jobs and increase their salaries as they advance in their studies. Of all CENCA graduates, 50% have gone on to university.
Data provided by FCFN Monitoring Unit
Dedicated to protect, promote and propel the industrial, cultural and intangible heritage of Progreso and the Novella family.
The 4th generation of Carlos F. Novella descendants began an initiative to tell Carlos's story and that of the industry he founded almost 125 years ago.
The company is currently working on a historical archive where objects, photographs, and documents of Progreso, important not only for the company but also for the country, are cataloged and stored, as they recount the history of Guatemala's construction industry.
Through its Historical Archive, the Carlos F. Novella Museum safeguards Cementos Progreso's objects, photographs, and documents to protect and promote its ongoing story.
During 2022, we strengthened partnerships with Progreso units to deliver historical information more efficiently.
Negatives in special envelopes and boxes.
Original Plan Cleansing.
Blueprints with minimal restoration
Digitalized Photographs
Digitalized Book Indexes and Covers
For over
The
23 years
F. Novella Museum
Visitors to the archive facilities
Carlos
has opened its doors to those visitors and friends who are inspired by the founder of Cementos Progreso's legacy.
"The workshops have been a success, because we learned to value ourselves as people, to manage our emotions while facing personal, family and community conflicts.
When we value life, we learn to change the way we see conflicts, we are also taught to be good communicators and not to participate in violence.
Their simple explanations were impactful, we had already had experience with the topics they covered in our lives and the activities were very nice".
Participant La Factoría CiudadanaNathalie Gabriela Reyes Carías is 11 years old, a 5th grade student at the official urban mixed school Oscar Arnoldo Conde in Sanarate. She was motivated by her father Fredy Reyes to enter the program, despite him noticing that she was an introvert.
Nathalie always showed enthusiasm in program activities, both face-to-face and virtual. Today, she communicates more, has become responsible for her personal care, and understands the importance of her education.
The Socio-Sports School encouraged me to continue my studies at the school of physical education, applying my knowledge in values and physical training, encouraging quality time in my life.
It has helped my educational development, it helped me obtain the third highest average at the physical education school."
Nathalie Step y Step Participant
"When I grow up, I want to be technical draftsperson and be a veterinarian."
Gabriela Saray Camey Cuxé ESD San Juan Participant
"This Program has helped me change my life in several ways. "INEB Telesecundaria Zet Community
"When I was in first grade, I too received the Technical and Technological Classrooms course. This year I was able to learn much more. At the end of the project, I felt very satisfied, but I want to continue improving next year."
Miguel Francisco Tomás 9th grade student INEB Telesecundaria San Juan Sacatepéquez
"My brother started seventh grade at CENCA and he was able to graduate highschool. He motivated me and told me that even though he had five daughters it was not too late to study, so I made the decision to start my first year of elementary school.
I work in green area maintenance in Estor, Puerto Barrios. I travel every week to attend classes at CENCA on Saturdays. Every Monday I take my notebooks with me to do my homework. Now I can send it through the platform, any day and at any time.
My dream is to pursue Systems Engineering in college. The hardest class for me is Learning and Communication Technologies (LCT), because I am 36 years old, but it is the one I like the most.
My daughters say they want to be like me and, thank God, my first daughter is about to start her first year of high school.
Carlos Emilio Iquic Suruy 11th grade student at CENCA San Juan Sacatepéquez“My dream is to go to college”
"In the future I want to study something related to Robotics."
Raúl Alejandro Maldonado 9th grade student
Carlos F. Novella Foundation, Annual Report 2022.