Send Baru Students to Training School

A few years after finishing high school, she finally decided to pursue it. But doing so meant leaving Barú behind. She did not want to move to Cartagena to rent a small room and live among strangers, especially knowing she could not afford the costs that came with it. Then, a friend who had studied at EFE Barú told her about the school’s technical training program in Culinary Arts.

Without hesitation, Geraldine traveled to Santa Ana, completed the application process, sat for the exam and interview, and waited anxiously for the results. Days later, when she learned she had been accepted into the program, she cried with joy, feeling that a new chapter of her life was finally beginning. At first, she worried about how she would attend classes every day. Although EFE Barú is located on the island, transportation from Barú to Santa Ana, where the school is based, is expensive. Fortunately, the monthly transportation subsidy she received throughout her training made it possible for her to attend classes consistently. There were days of heavy rain and moments when the transportation she relied on broke down, but her determination never wavered.After completing the theoretical phase of the Culinary Arts program, Geraldine began receiving calls from organizations in Cartagena and even Barranquilla looking for interns. Among the many opportunities, she was selected by one of the best hotels on Barú Island. There, close to her home and family, surrounded by long shifts, recipes, and culinary techniques, Geraldine has discovered the true strength of her perseverance. Through early mornings and sleepless nights, she now sees the dream she once imagined as a little girl slowly becoming a reality.