AGP Executive Report

Venezuela Earthquake Response: Venezuela’s official death toll rose to 2,645, with a UN-backed estimate putting direct damage at $37B, as schools and health services struggle to recover and thousands still lack permanent housing. Education Continuity: The Ministry of Popular Power for Education said classes resume July 6, except in municipalities where school infrastructure was damaged. Student Support on the Ground: UCV’s Faculty of Medicine set up a collection center to sort and register medical supplies for quake victims under health and inventory protocols. Youth Programs Under Review: Trinidad and Tobago’s MiLAT military-academic training suspension has alarmed educators and youth advocates, who fear cadets and vulnerable young men could lose a key pathway to exams and social inclusion. Climate Risk for Schools: The WMO warned El Niño is set to strengthen rapidly July–September, raising the odds of heatwaves, droughts, and heavy rainfall that can disrupt learning and safety across the region. Education Leadership: Bryanston Group appointed Titus Edge as its first executive head, starting Jan 2027, bringing nearly 30 years of international school leadership.

Colombia Politics: A far-right surge is reshaping Colombia’s political map after Abelardo de la Espriella’s unexpected first-round win, with analysts pointing to a crisis of Uribismo, anger tied to the peace process, and alleged backing networks. Caribbean Culture & Education: The “Where Culture Lives” research project, commissioned by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, wrapped with a symposium in The Hague and a baseline study across Aruba, Curaçao and other islands, highlighting how culture is transmitted and sustained. Venezuela Earthquake Response: Venezuela’s quake recovery keeps expanding, with the Venezuelan College of Dentists and the national professional union running on-the-ground care in Parque del Oeste as needs mount after twin disasters. Student Support After School Disruption: In Limerick, an English language school closure triggered an emergency transfer plan for enrolled international students to protect visas and attendance requirements. World Cup & Learning: Across the region, schools and communities are adjusting schedules around the England–Mexico 1am match, including replay screenings and late-arrival policies to keep students on track. Caribbean Regional Cooperation: CARICOM marks its 53rd anniversary with renewed calls for deeper regional coordination across education, disaster response and climate adaptation.

Venezuela Earthquake Response Under Fire: Interim President Delcy Rodriguez rejected claims her government was slow, saying officials mobilized fast and scaled up deployments, as UN agencies warned needs are skyrocketing and damage hit hospitals, schools, and water networks. Humanitarian Urgency: A week after the twin quakes, rescuers pulled a security guard alive from La Guaira mall ruins, while the UNHCR said tens of thousands still lack shelter and UNICEF airlifted supplies for 100,000 people for three months. Education Disruption in the Region: In England, World Cup timing sparked debate over whether schools should open late or allow replays after the 1am England–Mexico match—an example of how major events can collide with schooling schedules. Caribbean Lifelong Learning: Antigua and Barbuda’s Ecclesiastical Commission and UWI Five Islands launched a Caribbean-focused lifelong learning series for clergy and public leadership, starting with a 10-week protocol course. AI Skills Push: Latin America and the Caribbean backed a regional roadmap calling for stronger AI literacy and training for educators and public officials to reduce inequality and improve governance. School Health Support: Antigua’s Kiwanis launched “Bright Eyes” to provide eye exams and glasses for vulnerable students, aiming to boost classroom success.

Venezuela Earthquake Response: Search-and-rescue teams rescued a 44-year-old security guard from rubble in La Guaira after nearly a week, highlighting the scale of the humanitarian emergency after the June 24 double quake that has killed about 2,000 and left tens of thousands missing. Child Protection & Human Trafficking Risk: Actor Édgar Ramírez urged faster protection for separated children, warning that chaos after disasters can fuel trafficking, with calls for UNICEF and humanitarian groups to step in. Education & Access Partnerships: In Rio de Janeiro, Petrobras and ICMBio signed agreements tied to Tijuca National Park and the Christ the Redeemer area, including new accessibility equipment—an example of how public infrastructure planning can affect learning and mobility for residents and visitors. Research & Learning: Brazilian scientists on an international expedition reported 31 new deep-sea marine species off Brazil, adding to growing regional knowledge that can feed future education and conservation efforts. Higher Education Cooperation: Belarus and Brazil agreed to deepen education links, including higher-education mobility and university exchanges. Anti-Hate Monitoring: Argentina’s Jewish umbrella group DAIA reported 713 antisemitic incidents in 2025, with most occurring online.

Venezuela Earthquake Response: In La Guaira, volunteers and youth-party staff run a shelter command center at the “Republic of Panama” school, using a digital system to register more than 350 residents while aftershocks keep fear high and schools stay closed. Search-and-Rescue at Los Cocos: Rescuers restart tunneling at the Hugo Chávez housing complex, digging for survivors and the dead as families wait for news. Child Protection in Disasters: Save the Children reports children displaced into tent camps and streets, with mobile safe spaces, mental health support, and family tracing as caregivers are separated. Education Equity in the Caribbean: UNESCO’s 2026 report says Trinidad and Tobago’s SEA placement exam still sorts students too early, risking unequal “better start” outcomes despite expanded secondary access. School Nutrition and Skills: Titchfield High School in the Caribbean expands its broiler program with a $5.8M boost to strengthen hands-on agriculture, STEAM learning, and student nutrition. Media and Learning Access: Trinidad’s High Court orders One Caribbean Media to pay compensation over an old report alleging links to ISIS, a reminder of how misinformation can harm livelihoods and education pathways.

Inclusive Education: A new comparative analysis looks at how the U.S. and Brazil implement inclusive education, arguing that legal rights matter less than the on-the-ground structure, professional support, and flexibility that turn policy into real services. Student Voices in Schools: NYC’s student-produced P.S. Weekly wraps its third season with a live episode where young reporters reflect on what they learned about school mergers, teacher diversity, and equity in admissions—and why student perspectives should lead education debates. Venezuela Earthquake Aftermath (Education Angle): As Venezuela’s twin quakes leave nearly 2,000 dead and thousands missing, universities in Caracas suspend activities over building safety while campuses and faculty shift to disaster relief. CARICOM & Inclusion: CARICOM is preparing a regional push to address discrimination and marginalization affecting Rastafarians, including barriers to education and public participation. Health & Learning Access: A report on vaccination coverage across the Dutch Caribbean finds big gaps by island and age group, with some older-child coverage far below infant levels—raising concerns for school-age health.

Venezuela Earthquake Response: After twin quakes hit June 24, Venezuela’s National Assembly president says more than 6,460 people have been rescued, with deaths rising to 1,943 and hundreds of aftershocks recorded as heavy rain raises the risk of landslides and more collapses. Disaster Preparedness & Education: Trinidad’s UWI seismic team is studying Galfa Beach’s uplift to understand how Venezuela’s quake shaking may have amplified local damage—useful for future school and community preparedness planning. School Safety Policy: A city council education chair in the Philippines is pushing stronger anti-bullying and child-protection measures in public schools, benchmarking parts of its approach on Venezuela’s child-welfare model. Digital Learning Integrity: AFP debunks a manipulated clip claiming Indonesia’s president ordered Dota to be taught in schools, tracing it to unrelated footage from a France trip. Student Health Research: A Brazilian study links diabetes to slower recovery after COVID-19 hospitalization, suggesting longer follow-up needs for patients with diabetes.

Venezuela Earthquake Aftermath: Satellite analysis by NASA-linked researchers suggests the June 24 twin quakes damaged or destroyed about 58,870 buildings, far above early official counts, as the death toll reported by National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez rose to 1,943 with 10,571 injured and thousands missing—while schools, hospitals and other services struggle to recover. Humanitarian Response for Children: UNICEF says 680,000 children need aid, including emergency medical support, clean water, child protection and safe learning spaces, as relief groups scale up operations and donors urge faster help. Education & Inclusion Funding in the Caribbean: St. Kitts and Nevis raised US$4,500 for a special-needs school via an IGS 2026 charity auction, highlighting how education remains a core pillar in local development plans. Scholarship Pathway: The St. Kitts and Nevis embassy in Taiwan announced a Bachelor of Medicine scholarship at I-Shou University, covering tuition, living support and health insurance for eligible students. Sports Policy Backdrop: The U.S. Supreme Court upheld birthright citizenship and also backed state bans on transgender girls and women in school sports—setting a wider policy context for education and student participation debates across the region.

Venezuela Earthquake Response: Rescue teams in La Guaira raced to find survivors as the death toll neared 1,500 and tens of thousands remained unaccounted for, with schools reportedly closed for another week and electricity partially restored; engineers are also urging urgent inspections of damaged public housing after Chávez-era buildings collapsed. Humanitarian Aid & Accountability: International and U.S. support is expanding, but critics say coordination and access are uneven, while families of deportees reportedly killed in a hotel collapse are questioning why they were housed there. Education & Child Protection: UNICEF says hundreds of thousands of children need aid after the quakes, as hospitals and schools struggle to keep services running amid displacement and shortages. Regional Higher Education (Caribbean): Antigua and Barbuda moved toward an $80M expansion of the UWI Five Islands Campus, with bidding closing soon, as the country prepares for CHOGM security drills. Learning & Workforce Pipeline (Caribbean/US): A U.S. nursing education partnership aims to expand practice-ready nurse pathways through scholarships, clinical placements, and loan repayment support.

Humanitarian Response: The EU announced €5 million plus a 50-ton aid flight to support Venezuela earthquake victims, including shelter, medical help, and school-protection supplies, while Movilnet restored communications in La Guaira and set up free Wi‑Fi and donation lines. Child Protection & School Impact: UNICEF says 680,000 children need assistance after the twin quakes, with education disrupted by structural damage and wider service breakdowns. Rescue Efforts Under Pressure: With the death toll reported near 1,450 and thousands displaced, search teams continue despite aftershocks, and the UN says thousands of rescuers and search dogs are working across 27 countries. Education & Language Preservation: The University of Guyana graduated the first Wapichan language course cohort, marking a higher-education push to preserve indigenous languages. University Learning & Social Business: Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus urged universities to embed social business into curricula, research, and innovation. Maritime Training: Texas A&M University at Galveston highlighted how it trains the next generation of mariners through its maritime academy.

Disaster Response: Venezuela’s twin earthquakes have pushed the death toll to about 1,450, with rescue teams racing through rubble in La Guaira as aftershocks complicate relief and schools stay closed another week. Regional Support & Funding: CAF launched a US$1M Venezuela Recovery and Reconstruction Fund (plus earlier humanitarian aid), while El Salvador’s Bukele offered help and Venezuela’s foreign ministry was tasked with coordinating support. Community & Education Impact: Authorities say electricity is partially restored (about 75% in La Guaira) and displaced families face mounting shelter needs, with children among those hardest hit. Sports & Youth: Sint Maarten’s National Sports Institute opened a new multipurpose court at the Raoul Illidge Sports Complex, backing youth development through upgraded facilities. World Cup Spotlight: Brazil faces Japan in the Round of 32 as Neymar remains on the bench, according to coach Carlo Ancelotti, setting up a high-stakes knockout clash.

Venezuela Earthquake Response: Twin quakes (7.2 and 7.5) have killed at least 1,430 people, with about 68,900 missing, and left hospitals beyond capacity and many schools damaged, according to UNICEF. U.S. search-and-rescue teams pulled a mother and baby alive from rubble in La Guaira, while aid groups warn the humanitarian need is still expanding. Humanitarian Aid Logistics: UNICEF says an initial airlift delivered medical supplies, tents, clean water and sanitation items, with more shipments en route. Preparedness and Risk: The UWI Seismic Research Centre urged regional preparedness, noting the events disrupted the Caribbean Plate and that direct fault links between quakes are hard to prove. Education Access Hit: UNICEF highlights that thousands of children lack safe water and that damaged schools are worsening the crisis for learning and daily survival. Community Fundraising: Venezuelan communities abroad, including in Omaha, are organizing donations and supplies to support relief efforts.

Venezuela Earthquake Response: CAF launched a Venezuela Recovery and Reconstruction Fund after the June 24 double earthquakes, aiming to pool public, private and international contributions under one framework, seeding it with $1 million and waiving admin fees; Pope Leo XIV also sent €100,000 via the Apostolic Almsgiving as death toll reports climbed to 1,430 with tens of thousands missing. Education Tech in the Region: Guyana’s EduGoal Global shifted to a public-access model for its AI-powered learning platform, cutting barriers for students and teachers with low-cost subscriptions and personalized learning support. Regional Education Diplomacy: The OECS formalized a renewed bond with France, highlighting plans for educational mobility, French language training and tech cooperation across Caribbean territories. Learning and Safety via Health Training: BYU nursing professors and students continue helping mountain rescue efforts for Hindu pilgrims in India, including training mountaineers and supporting medically trained helicopter evacuations. Sports and Youth Engagement: An INCAS Youth Wing UAE World Cup-inspired tournament in Dubai used football to push anti-drug awareness and youth empowerment through school-based competition.

Venezuela Earthquakes: Twin quakes (7.2 and 7.5) have devastated northern Venezuela, with the death toll reported at 1,430 and injuries above 3,200 as rescue teams race through rubble in La Guaira and beyond; satellite images show collapsed neighborhoods and major infrastructure damage, while the UN estimates up to 6.76 million people may be affected, pushing a fragile health system to the brink. Regional Response & Funding: CAF has launched a Venezuela Recovery and Reconstruction Fund to pool public, private and international support, adding to earlier humanitarian aid commitments. Caribbean Preparedness: The UWI Seismic Research Centre urges Caribbean residents to stay prepared after the quake energy disrupted the wider plate boundary zone. Education & Community Angle: In the quake-hit areas, schools are being used as temporary shelters and donation centers, while displaced families struggle to find safe housing. Public Health (Brazil): Brazil plans to expand free telehealth support for compulsive gambling, including a national survey to guide prevention and care.

Venezuela Earthquakes: Back-to-back quakes have killed hundreds and left thousands missing, with rescuers racing to pull survivors from rubble as aid teams arrive from across the region and beyond; experts point to older buildings, rushed construction, and soft soils as key reasons many neighborhoods were so vulnerable. Humanitarian Response: Save the Children warns children are spending another night in open spaces, with families separated during evacuations, while international partners step up search-and-rescue and relief logistics. Education & Learning Continuity: In Belize, a new preschool in Santa Cruz Village opens with child-friendly facilities and ramps, backed by the Belize Social Investment Fund, the Caribbean Development Bank, and the education ministry. Policy & Cooperation: Colombia and the Philippines sign a tourism cooperation MOU covering research, education and upskilling, plus sustainability and promotion. Central America Environment: Honduras’ “Zero Deforestation by 2029” plan leans on an armed “environmental protection battalion,” sparking debate over whether militarized conservation can work long-term.

Venezuela Earthquake Crisis: Venezuela’s “doublet” earthquakes (7.2 and 7.5) have killed at least 920 people, with more than 3,300 injured and tens of thousands still missing as rescuers race through collapsed neighborhoods and aftershocks continue. Humanitarian Response: The U.S. moved to waive some sanctions to keep earthquake-relief transactions flowing, while international teams and aid appeals ramp up. Community Search for Survivors: Reports say neighbors and families are increasingly relying on local digging and online registries to find loved ones when official rescue coverage lags. Education Watch: Brazil’s Ministry of Education says public high-school outcomes improved from 2022 to 2025, with fewer failures, lower dropout, and higher graduation rates. Homeschooling Case (Brazil): A São Paulo court sentenced a couple to 50 days in prison for homeschooling without required gender/sex education content, though the decision is under appeal. Sports & Learning (Regional): Cape Verde’s World Cup run is being framed as a national identity project, while a new AI crime-fighting startup in Brazil highlights how tech is reshaping public safety and learning.