Celebrating the Fifth Graduating Class at FHNS.
A Living System of Learning Rooted in Community, Growth, and Possibility... From Community Vision to Collective Action.
In 2014, a rural farming community in Belize came together around a shared concern: young people were being left behind by systems that didn’t reflect their realities or potential. Families, elders, and community leaders asked: What kind of education do our children need to truly thrive, not just survive?
OneSynergee heard that call. What followed wasn’t a top-down solution, but a process of walking alongside, listening, and building with the community. The result? A shared vision that took shape in 2017 with the launch of the FHNS Learning Center, a solar-powered education hub for students in grades 8 through 12.
From its early days in Cadena Creek to its 2022 relocation in Center Road, FHNS has stayed grounded in the same idea: learning should prepare young people for life, not just exams. More Than Just a School.
FHNS was never meant to follow the usual playbook. It was built as a launchpad. A place where education is tied to the land, the economy, the culture, and the future.
Here, students don’t just study. They:
- Learn, explore and develop solutions to real world challenges
- Build small business plans and design capstone projects
- Get mentored by community members
- Volunteer in local projects
- Explore trades, college pathways, and careers that feel both possible and personal
It’s real-world learning with local relevance, designed to reflect who they are and where they come from.
The very first group of 8th graders enrolled in 2017. They graduated in 2021, FHNS’s first class. And every year since, a new class has followed. Now in 2025, we’re celebrating our fifth graduating class. It’s a huge milestone, not just for the students, but for everyone who’s shaped this journey. From the volunteers who gave their time to the families who stuck it out, this moment belongs to all of us.
What the Numbers Say
Over the past eight years, FHNS has kept track, not just of grades, but of what students go on to do next. Here’s what we’ve seen:
- Graduation rate: 92%
- 33% moved on to college or vocational training
- 41% started working, many in trades, agri-tech, or local businesses
- 18% joined or launched small ventures
- 8% stepped into apprenticeships or leadership roles in their communities
And behind every number is a story, a student who figured out what they’re good at, what they care about, and what comes next.
This Year’s Class: 2025
The fifth graduating class continues a proud tradition at FHNS. Like every cohort before them, this group includes young women breaking barriers and several first-generation high school graduates, a quiet but significant victory that speaks volumes about what this space makes possible.
Some standout moments from the Class of 2025:
- A student team created a solar-powered irrigation prototype, now under review for local implementation
- One graduate was accepted into a regional agri-tech fellowship
- Others are moving on to junior college to study Architectural Design, Environmental Studies, Chemistry, and Entrepreneurship.
These students walk different paths, but all carry the same thread: resilience, resourcefulness, and a readiness to contribute, wherever they go next.
Looking Ahead
The goal stays the same: keep it real, keep it relevant, and keep it rooted in the voices of the people here.
From 2014’s first conversation to 2025’s fifth graduating class, FHNS is proof that when we build together, we build things that last. Reaching five graduating classes isn’t just a number. It’s a reflection of what can happen when a community believes in its youth, and keeps showing up. From 2014’s first conversation to 2025’s fifth graduating class, FHNS is proof that when we build together, we build things that last.
To the Class of 2025...
Thank you for showing us what’s possible. We’re proud of you, and we’re with you. Always.
