Improving the rural education in Colombia

by Fundacion Barco
Improving the rural education in Colombia
Improving the rural education in Colombia
Improving the rural education in Colombia
Improving the rural education in Colombia
Improving the rural education in Colombia
Improving the rural education in Colombia
Improving the rural education in Colombia
Improving the rural education in Colombia
Improving the rural education in Colombia
Improving the rural education in Colombia
Improving the rural education in Colombia
Improving the rural education in Colombia
Improving the rural education in Colombia
Improving the rural education in Colombia
Improving the rural education in Colombia
Improving the rural education in Colombia
Improving the rural education in Colombia
Improving the rural education in Colombia
Improving the rural education in Colombia
Improving the rural education in Colombia

Project Report | Feb 5, 2025
Embracing the joy of learning

By Claudia Vergara | Alliance coordinator

In the classroom
In the classroom

A lesson from the mountains

The temptation to drop out of school has many faces, and one of them can be found in San Bernardo, a small town in the mountains of Colombia, just 99 kilometers from Bogotá. This colorful place is defined by the resilience of its people, especially the students of the Andes Rural Departmental Educational Institution, located in an agricultural region. They refuse to give in to adversity and fight every day to achieve their dreams.

As the school principal explains, when students transition from lower to upper secondary education, many start to reconsider their plans and think about leaving school. Some no longer wish to continue, while others consider switching to adult education programs. But regardless of the reason, there is always a common denominator: economic hardship.

Building stories of rural entrepreneurship

When Fundación Barco arrived in 2020 with its ESCALA program, the goal was to understand the challenges these students faced and find a solution that would bridge their need to generate income with the agricultural potential of the region. This led to the creation of productive projects within the school, allowing students to continue their studies while earning an income.

San Bernardo is an agricultural land known as the region’s food pantry. Therefore, these projects had to be rooted in local traditions and inspire young people to fall in love with the bounty of their land, the very land they are a part of. ESCALA, Fundación Barco’s program that engages communities to spark students' passion for learning as a path to progress and well-being, supported them in turning their dreams of owning productive projects into reality.

Today, students have established thriving ventures, including laying hen farms, pig fattening projects, worm composting, and even handcrafted planters. These initiatives not only generate income but also shape their character and entrepreneurial skills—without forcing them to abandon their education.

With your help #WeMakeItPossible, we invite you to share this message with your friends and family so that more children in rural areas of Colombia can achieve their dreams:

I support young kids in rural Colombia trough ESCALA Program to finish their education for more and better opportunities. https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/improving-the-rural-education-for-262-students/

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Reporte

Enero 2023

Enamorarse del  proceso de aprendizaje

Una lección desde las montañas

La tentación de la deserción escolar tiene diferentes caras, una de ellas es la de San Bernardo, un pueblo escondido en las montañas de Cundinamarca a tan solo 99 kilómetros de Bogotá. Este lugar, lleno de color, se caracteriza por la actitud de sus habitantes, especialmente, los estudiantes de la Institución Educativa Rural Departamental Andes, ubicado en una región agrícola, quienes no se rinden ante las adversidades y luchan día a día por cumplir sus sueños.

Como lo cuenta la rectora de esta institución, los niños al pasar de la básica secundaria a la media, muchas veces empiezan a sentir ganas de cambiar de planes y dejar su escuela. Algunos de ellos no quieren continuar, otros se quieren pasar a la educación para adultos, pero independientemente del motivo, siempre hay un denominador común: el tema económico.

Construyendo historias de emprendimiento rural

En 2020 cuando llegó la Fundación Barco con su programa ESCALA, buscamos entender lo que estaba sucediendo para encontrar una solución a los estudiantes que conectara la necesidad de generar ingresos con las posibilidades agrícolas que tiene la zona y de ahí nacieron los proyectos productivos con los que hoy cuenta este colegio. De esta manera los estudiantes podrían seguir sus estudios y, al mismo tiempo, generar recursos económicos.

 San Bernardo es una tierra agrícola y es conocida como la despensa de la región, por lo tanto, estos proyectos productivos tenían que estar enfocados en la tradición local y hacer que estos niños y jóvenes se enamoran de los frutos que les entrega esta tierra, de la que hoy en día hacen parte. Por eso, el programa ESCALA de la Fundación Barco, que trabaja con las comunidades para enamorar a los estudiantes de sus procesos de aprendizaje, camino para su progreso y bienestar futuro, a partir de sus entornos particulares, los acompañó para que cumplieran su sueño de tener sus propios proyectos productivos.

 Hoy en día ya están consolidados proyectos de gallinas ponedoras, cerdos de engorde, cultivos de lombrices y hasta materas artesanales, con las que generan ingresos y al tiempo forman su alma y sus aptitudes emprendedoras sin tener que abandonar sus estudios.

 Con tu ayuda #LoHacemosPosible, te invitamos a que compartas este mensaje con tus amigos y familiares para que más niños y niñas de las zonas rurales de Colombia logren cumplir sus sueños:

Apoyo a las niñas, niños y adolescentes de las zonas rurales de Colombia a través del programa ESCALA para que terminen su educación y tengan más y mejores oportunidades. https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/improving-the-rural-education-for-262-students/

 

Fundación Barco

Project 1
Project 1
Project 2
Project 2
San Bernardo
San Bernardo

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Oct 16, 2024
ESCALA A Strong promise for keeping kids in schooL

By Claudia Vergara | Alliance coordinator

Jul 10, 2024
ESCALA: Generating Transformative Actions

By Claudia Vergara | Alliance coordinator

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Organization Information

Fundacion Barco

Location: Bogota - Colombia
Website:
Facebook: Facebook Page
Twitter: @FundacionBarco
Project Leader:
Claudia Vergara
Bogota , Colombia
$9,161 raised of $15,000 goal
 
163 donations
$5,839 to go
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