I. FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES

All FFS in the world are characterized by the same fundamental principles as such:

1. The responsibility of the families in the formation of their children, that they participate in the formation, management and daily operation of every FFS and extending to all the rural areas;


2. A particular pedagogy for the integral development of the young people; it uses a formation method called “the alternation” between the associate-professional rural world and the center of formation. This allows for a permanent relationship between practice and theory, work and study, experience and knowledge;


3. The community participates in the formation; this assures the total formation of the students and favors personal and collective promotion of the community, therefore it is a vehicle for community development and cultural authentication and bases for permanent formation.

To fulfill the above principles, the Family Farm Schools see to it that they adhere to the four pillars. These four pillars are 1) Integral Formation, 2) Rural Development, 3) Alternancia, and ) Responsible Associations. The first two pillars are the aims of the Family Farm School while the latter two are the means to achieve the aims.

To ensure that the Four Pillars are strong enough, the board of the association are truly engaged while the teachers/tutors of the school are well-trained and exceptional in their duties.