For years, Bolivia’s Students For Liberty network has built something rare: a movement known not just for its energy, but for its seriousness. Through consistent, nationwide work, the team has set a high bar for principled, thoughtful engagement with the ideas of liberty.
That reputation is now drawing interest from an even younger audience.
More and more high school students began asking how they could get involved—how they could start learning and developing before arriving at university. Rather than wait, the team decided to meet them where they are.
Horizontes Libres (Free Horizons) was born as a summer pilot program aimed at introducing students to the foundations of libertarian thought while helping them grow in practical skills: debating, critical thinking, teamwork, and basic project design.
In just four editions, the program has reached more than 200 students. The January 2026 cohort was the strongest yet. Over 40 participants from diverse backgrounds completed more than 20 training sessions, supported by two respected universities in Santa Cruz de la Sierra.
Sessions featured a mix of university professors, libertarian leaders, local intellectuals, SFL coordinators, and alumni. The result was a learning environment that felt both rigorous and accessible—serious ideas, presented in a way that challenged students to think and to build.
The team also secured meaningful institutional backing. Through sponsorship from a partner university and an in-kind contribution from Universidad Privada de Santa Cruz (UPSA), every participant received a “post-title” certificate valued at USD $700. For many students, this was their first formal academic recognition tied to the ideas of liberty.
The closing ceremony brought together more than 100 attendees. Families, mentors, and community members watched as students presented the projects they had developed throughout the month in a Shark Tank–style showcase. Three teams were selected to continue refining their initiatives with ongoing support from the local SFL chapter.
What started as a focused experiment is quickly becoming something larger. Several countries across Latin America are already exploring how to replicate the model.
Horizontes Libres is more than a summer program. It is a long-term investment—planting the seeds of leadership early and equipping the next generation to carry the ideas of liberty forward with confidence and competence.
