Weaving Science and Entrepreneurship in Rural Communities

The «Future Entrepreneurs» program (2023) was an initiative of the Capital’s Government of San Luis Potosí designed to build community-based mechanisms for economic development. The main objective is to empower women in rural communities to identify their productive skills, generate income, and develop business projects with their families, alongside their children.

Sci-Kid Club’s Role: From Strategy to Action In this edition, Sci-Kid Club was the key implementation partner to bring this program to life. Through our network of «SciKid Scientists» (young master’s and doctoral students from institutions in San Luis Potosí like IPICYT and UASLP), we deployed the methodology in the field, merging the program’s entrepreneurship goals with our specialty: STEAM education through Frugal Science. We were the bridge that connected the government’s vision, the Kid’s Cap methodology, and frugal science with the families, ensuring that every workshop and activity had a deep and lasting educational impact.

Impact Results (May – July 2023): Thanks to this synergy, the program achieved remarkable numbers in the most remote communities of the capital:

• 1,828 Direct Beneficiaries: Including children and their families.
• 457 Children and Youths Trained: Directly in their schools.
• 11 Rural Communities Served: Bringing opportunities to areas such as Lechuguillas, Las Manguitas, and Terrones Sangre de Cristo.
• 11 Entrepreneurship Fairs Held: Creating real spaces for families to showcase and sell their projects.

Sci-Kid Innovation: The «Finances with Agronieve» Module In addition to the «Future Entrepreneurs» program’s core methodology, Sci-Kid Club designed and integrated a practical workshop that directly connected science with financial education.

• The Experiment (The Science): Using our Scientific Snow (Agronieve) Workshop, children learned about the properties of super-absorbent polymers (hydrogel). They created artificial «snow» capable of retaining large amounts of water, a scientific concept with a direct and powerful application in agriculture for water conservation, which is key for climate change adaptation.
• The Simulation (The Finances): This is where the magic happened. The experiment was transformed into an entrepreneurship exercise. Each team of children was given an initial budget. To carry out the experiment, they had to «buy» their materials (hydrogel, containers, etc.) at fixed prices, recording every expense. This way, they learned not only about polymers but also about budget management, production costs, and expense tracking. This module is a perfect example of our philosophy: science is not just for learning, it’s for doing, creating, and solving.

A Recognition of Impact Prior to the Sci-Kid Club team joining, the Municipality of San Luis Potosí was recognized in 2022 for this program and its proven impact on inclusive economic recovery with the prestigious «Transforming Mexico from the Local Level» award, granted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).