The San Francisco Agricultural High School in Cerrito, Paraguay is laying the foundations, literally, for increased financial self-sufficiency. It is expanding the Parador Cerrito, its roadside convenience store and cafe, where it sells fresh, organic produce and dairy products that students have produced on the school's farm campus.

 From steaks to cakes, the Parador serves up tasty dishes made from ingredients produced at the school, thereby 'adding value' to the school’s farm production and helping the school towards its goal of financial self-sufficiency. Currently, the Parador takes in 14% of the school's revenue, and aims to cover 30% of the school's total operating costs in future years.

The roadside store also adds educational value. In this school for 'rural entrepreneurs' students play an active part in all aspects of the farm's business, from planting, mulching and harvesting, to documenting daily farm production and taking it to market.

By participating in the full cycle of agricultural production and marketing, students gain the skills and resourcefulness needed to build their own rural enterprises. Transporting the fruit of their labor to the Parador, - from crates of bright green lettuce to canisters of fresh milk - they learn the importance of having products arrive at market on time and in good condition. Once at the Parador, they are encouraged to interact with customers and ask questions of the store's staff. This further encourages an environment of hands-on learning.

It's not just the students and school that benefit, by offering healthy organic produce, at regular prices, the local community benefits too.

Through seeking new ways to get the maximum value for healthful products, the roadside Parador plays an important role in helping the school attain financial self-sufficiency, as well as a providing a real-life business setting for teaching students the ins and outs of a running a successful rural enterprise.