Empower students: Bilingual education in Colombia

Activity Report 2024: Empowering Bilingual Leaders to Transform Education in Colombia

Thanks to the generous support of GlobalGiving donors, Enseña por Colombia has made significant strides in empowering bilingual leaders to bring transformative education to some of the most vulnerable regions of Colombia. In 2024, our organization deployed 29 bilingual "Ecos" across the country. These remarkable leaders worked in early childhood education, primary, secondary, and high school settings, reaching a total of 5,243 students—2,668 girls and 2,575 boys.

Our Ecos are actively teaching in diverse regions, including Barranquilla, Cali, Malambo, Carepa, Chigorodó, Santuario, Bogotá, Barrancabermeja, Medellín, Necoclí, Dibulla, Tumaco, and Cartagena. Through their efforts, students in these communities are gaining access to quality bilingual education, equipping them with the tools to connect with the global community, enhance their critical thinking skills, and improve their future employability.

International donations through GlobalGiving are vital in helping us break the cycle of poverty. These contributions have enabled us to train and support 29 bilingual professionals in 2024, 18 of whom are now fully prepared to teach English for the next two years. They will continue receiving specialized training and English lessons to enhance their pedagogical and linguistic skills, ensuring sustainable growth in students’ academic performance.

Key achievements in 2024

• Training and Deployment: During our training institute, 29 bilingual leaders completed rigorous preparation, with 18 now actively teaching in classrooms across the country.
• Student Impact: Over 5,000 students directly benefited from bilingual education programs.
• Enhanced Learning Outcomes: Significant improvements in students' academic performance and English proficiency compared to previous years.

Looking ahead to 2025

In 2025, Enseña por Colombia will launch a new cohort of exceptional leaders through the LIDERA Institute. This comprehensive, four-month training program equips participants with pedagogical knowledge, leadership skills, and a mindset for driving change. Participants are carefully selected for their passion for education, leadership potential, and commitment to equity and equality. The program also includes a two-year mentorship component, providing ongoing guidance as these leaders implement innovative solutions in classrooms and communities.

These accomplishments were made possible by the collaboration of over 40 donors and the unwavering support of GlobalGiving. For us, maintaining visibility on this platform is crucial to expanding our reach and continuing to transform the lives of students across Colombia. Each student reached represents an opportunity to break barriers, open doors to a brighter future, and contribute to building a more equitable nation.

In 2025, we will continue working together to improve bilingual education in Colombia. With your support, we can bring quality education to the places that need it most. Every contribution counts toward making this dream a reality!

Thank you for being part of this journey. Together, we are empowering future generations and fostering lasting change.

Enseña por Colombia is a nonprofit organization that has been driving efforts to create a more equitable country for the past 12 years by promoting collective leadership in the education sector. As a member of the global Teach For All network, present in over 60 countries, we deliver this impact through our flagship Lidera program. This initiative seeks passionate, committed leaders dedicated to transforming educational realities within classrooms. Participants receive 750 hours of leadership training over two years, equipping them to become agents of educational transformation in Colombia, while simultaneously serving as teachers in vulnerable and diverse school communities throughout the program.

Thanks to donations from GlobalGiving, we have empowered our leaders to become bilingual and travel to some of the most vulnerable regions in Colombia to teach a second language. In 2024, Enseña por Colombia had 29 bilingual "Ecos" stationed across the country, working at all educational levels—early childhood, primary, secondary, and high school. These outstanding bilingual leaders are based in Barranquilla, Cali, Malambo, Carepa, Chigorodó, Santuario, Bogotá, Barrancabermeja, Medellín, Necoclí, Dibulla, Tumaco, and Cartagena, impacting a total of 5,243 students, including 2,668 girls and 2,575 boys.

For Enseña por Colombia, international donations through GlobalGiving are vital in helping us break the cycle of poverty. These contributions allow us to prepare students for a future full of opportunities. With this support, we have trained our bilingual Ecos, who are now working in the aforementioned regions, enhancing employment prospects for young people and enabling them to secure dignified jobs in the future. Furthermore, the bilingual education provided by our Ecos helps students connect with the global community, increase academic competitiveness, and develop critical thinking and adaptability skills.

It is incredibly rewarding for us that, over the years, thanks to donations received through GlobalGiving, we have been able to continue providing bilingual education to all these students. Moreover, we have seen significant academic performance and progress compared to previous years.

Enseña por Colombia sincerely thanks you for your continued support, highlighting the power of collective efforts in improving education in the country. 

Your valuable contribution will help us reach more students in Colombia, offering them high-quality education. By donating to Enseña por Colombia, you are planting the seeds for the future of thousands of children, giving them the opportunities and skills they need to thrive. Join us in our mission to create a profound change in the country’s education system. Thanks to the support of GlobalGiving and the donations we receive through them, we are joining forces to drive positive change through education.

• GG_11_09_.pdf (PDF)