GIVE THE GIFT OF EDUCATION! YOU CAN CHANGE LIVES

2020, a year that so many had been waiting for has been a great surprise, each one of our girls (and us) had placed great expectations on accomplishments, reaching goals, dreams that were going to come true this year.

In the midst of all the challenges – Colombia has been in full lockdown since March 13 and only support personnel has been able to enter or leave La Chinca since then -,  without a doubt, the girls have recognized that it is a year to learn, that dreams can still come true, just that this time it wouldn’t be as they had planned. This has been the great opportunity that has presented itself to help us find new ways and to be a little introspective, so we can empower and learn more about ourselves.

With their life plan in mind, seven of the older girls have started, with great hope their technical studies in areas like Graphic Design, Early Childhood Care, Administrative Assistants, Gastronomy and  Criminalistics. Another one of our students started her last semester in Human Resource Management and yet another has continued studies in Psychology.

For them, there has been a learning curve to adapt to distance learning. They have had to work harder and increase their commitment, frustration tolerance and patience; all while living with another 50 people where they have to wait their turn for the use of the computer, pay attention to class without getting distracted and make the best use of their time.

When asked what motivates them to continue, they all agree that it is the desire to make their dreams come true, that they see themselves becoming great professionals, working in what they have chosen and that makes them happy. They are holding on to their dreams convinced that this will pass and they will come out stronger on the other side, just as has been the case with many other situations they have faced in the past.

For our younger girls, the days go by between distance learning, life skill workshops and recreational activities that we promote in order to help make their days more enjoyable as being in lockdown is a complex reality even more so for young children who do not understand the magnitude of the situation and only want to study, laugh, play and grow in a calm and safe place.

Thanks to the support we have received, our 50 girls are protected in a home where the opportunities of making their dreams come true do not end and where the new reality of the world, only invites to think and act differently, to adapt and understand that teachings not always arrive the way we expect them. Now, all of our girls, starting with elementary and up to undergraduate levels, learn from here, their Casa (Home) and await patiently the moment to see and hug those who accompany them in their process.