Raised in Barcelona on the Caribbean coast of Venezuela
Freddy García ’25 (Venezuela)’s education enabled him to see beyond the limits of his own reality.
Before coming to UWC Costa Rica, Freddy focused his energy and work on the neglect of social and mental health in teenagers, especially during the Pandemic.
Once he was selected by the Venezuelan National Committee, Freddy had to overcome some visa challenges that became part of his journey to UWC Costa Rica. He finally arrived in Costa Rica a month and a half after the school year had already started. He had to adjust to his new environment quickly and always with a smile. But he did! After spending some weeks on campus, Freddy became an integral part of this diverse community.
He was elected and trained to be one of Tortuguero’s Residence Assistants for the 2024-2025 academic year. On the Graduation Day, Freddy was awarded an Outstanding Leadership Award (OLA Award) for his contributions and active participation in the Residential & Wellness Area.
Due to financial constraints and country politics, Freddy was hosted by a Costa Rican family as part of the Host Families Program. Although he arrived later than other students in the country, he stayed longer. He had the opportunity to experience a great deal of Costa Rican culture up close, including important holidays and dates.
The desire to change the world, to make a difference, and to give visibility to silenced voices was the primary motivation for Freddy to participate in the inaugural TEDxUWCCR Youth event, held in November 2024.
Motivated by his father and driven by a strong determination to provide the best for his family, Freddy inspires us with an emotional TEDx talk about the voices of the silent majority in Latin America. He positions, front and center, the challenges that millions of Latin American workers face daily, as well as the economic uncertainty they encounter.
“It is in environments like these, UWC, that one can contemplate others’ ways of living life, and others in the world can see my way of seeing life, and in an act of cultural change, those voices are amplified now.”
Resilience, Prioritizing Community and Collective Good, Resourcefulness and Creativity in Problem-Solving, Gratitude, and living with Simplicity and Purpose – five lessons that stood out from the silent majority.
That night, Freddy proudly carried his nation’s flag, and a critical thinking that invited the audience to see these new generations of Latin American youth through the lens of hope, innovation, and possible dreams.
Standing in front of a packed audience, speaking in a foreign language to his own, and showing vulnerability was an incredible challenge for Freddy; yet, as a spokesperson for the silent majority, he leads by example and demonstrates the growth and resilience that come from his hard work.
Freddy not only stands out in TEDx, but he also acts like a proven Agent of Change. He was part of the Agents of Change team in Community Action Week (February 2025), visiting three high schools in Liberia and Santa Cruz, Guanacaste, and teaching around 150 teenagers about being a change-maker. Additionally, he attended the Colegio Bilingüe de Palmares, where 52 participants received his knowledge and passion for making a positive impact on the world.
“Now, after two years of this unforgettable experience, I can say that I can do a lot of things that I thought were almost impossible to do before”, recognized Freddy, “speaking English with confidence, sharing valuable ideas, thinking critically, and the most important thing, developing my purpose and cultivating my passion to serve humanity.”
This hunger to change the world was one of the key factors in Freddy receiving a Grieg scholarship.
“I will be forever grateful to UWC Costa Rica and the Grieg Foundation for all the things, academic, financial, and personal support that they have given to me in these two years.”
This is not the ending of Freddy’s journey. He received five letters of acceptance from different universities offering him a full scholarship from The Davis UWC Scholars Program to study International Business in the United States.
He promises to return to UWC Costa Rica as a professional and serve the young leaders who will be part of the movement. Additionally, in the short term, he aspires to be part of the Venezuelan National Committee and one day become its Chair.