Amid persistent educational challenges, such as a shortage of schools and school exclusion, the Pies Descalzos Foundation, led by singer Shakira, delivered the renovation of the Marco Tulio Montiel Uriana school located in the municipality of Uribia, La Guajira. This ethno-educational institution will benefit more than 1,300 students, including more than 300 in the boarding school modality.and serves a large part of the Wayúu indigenous community and migrants from Venezuela.
The project, which began in 2023, was completed in eight months with the construction of more than 2,200 square meters, with the support of the Ministry of Education and private sector partners such as . The Ministry of Education also played a key role in the completion of the project, which included the construction of new classrooms and dormitories.
Patricia Sierra, executive director of the Pies Descalzos Foundation, highlighted the foundation’s commitment to education in rural areas to reduce the gap between rural and urban areas.
“For four years, the foundation has been committed to working in rural areas of the country to help reduce the educational gap between rural and urban areas; reaching remote places with educational projects and constructions to help guarantee educational quality, working hand in hand with communities and the public and private sectors to transform the reality of thousands of girls and boys in Colombia,” said Sierra.
The school in Uribia includes technological devices and internet access for online education, as well as water systems and solar panels for energy. Bioclimatic conditions such as cross ventilation and high ceilings have also been incorporated to improve the learning environment.
This project is part of the foundation’s ongoing efforts in the Colombian Caribbean, which include interventions in six educational institutions in La Guajira and projects such as ‘Todos al Cole’ and ‘Círculos de Cuidado’, which support thousands of children in basic and early education. In addition, the foundation has built 10 schools and supports more than 300 public schools throughout the country.
Sierra reaffirmed the foundation’s commitment to continue working to transform lives through education and build a more promising future for future generations in the Colombian Caribbean.
“At a time when learning poverty is on the rise and a significant percentage of Colombian children still do not have access to education, we reaffirm our commitment to continue working tirelessly to transform lives through education and build a more promising future for future generations in the Colombian Caribbean,” Sierra concluded.
