Vanessa is a 14-year-old girl who studies at the Normal Superior educational institution of Quibdó, in Chocó, and although she lives in a neighborhood that faces different problems, she dreams of studying at the university to be an engineer and thus change her life, that of her family and their community.
Vanessa’s life began to change when her school became part of the Claro Connected Schools for Colombia program, an initiative through which free internet is provided to institutions like hers that also have the support of the Network. of Claro Volunteers to strengthen digital literacy and appropriation processes.
Being part of this great strategy allowed Vanessa to access online courses, learn about robotics, advanced mathematics and programming. Additionally, she found a global community of young people passionate about technology who inspired and supported her. But not only did he develop new skills, he also discovered his potential as a leader. Today, this young woman dreams of sharing her knowledge with other young people in her community and helping them achieve their own goals. Therefore, he began taking free online courses to learn about those topics that caught his attention, found mentors and global communities that share his same interests, and emphasized STEAM skills through freely accessible tools.
Today you have the possibility of continuing your training and preparation process to start your life project, which includes being part of Claro’s Social and Labor Inclusion initiative, with the Quibdó Robotics Room. Vanessa’s testimony demonstrates the transformative power of technology and the importance of providing opportunities to all students. But this story is not unique, currently more than 356,000 students and teachers in Colombia have access to the internet thanks to this program.
María Consuelo Castro, Sustainability Manager at Claro Colombia, pointed out that with these types of initiatives they are connecting dreams, breaking down barriers and building a more fair and equitable future. But there is still much to do. For her, this is just one of the many stories she has had the privilege of witnessing as Claro’s Director of Sustainability. For Castro, It is not only about technological connections, but about connecting dreams, opening doors and closing gaps that have long limited young people in the country.
“Vanessa and her study group identified that one of the biggest problems at the school was waste disposal. The snack packages, the dirty napkin… and then they decided to change that reality. Using technology, they designed a trash can that, when opened, gives thanks for throwing waste in the right place, and this resulted in better behavior in the student community,” Castro said.
On the other side of Colombia, in Mesetas, Meta, Sara, a girl who lives in the Las Flores neighborhood, an hour from the urban center, has found in another of Claro’s programs a space that distances her from the violence of the armed conflict. that has been experienced historically in the region.
“In her town, Sara and her neighbors benefit from the ‘Copa Claro for Colombia’which is much more than a soccer tournament: it is a space where this sport is taken as an excuse for participants to work on their life skills, values, peaceful conflict resolution, prevention of psychoactive substance consumption, pregnancy adolescent and alcohol consumption,” Castro explained.
This program uses a special methodology that completely changes the rules of the game: there are no referees, the teams are mixed, there are three halves and everything is done through consensus and dialogue. “Thanks to this, Sara is today a leader in her community and a champion on issues of equity, diversity and inclusion; It is an example of resilience,” he emphasized.
Today, Sara is not only a leader on her soccer team, but also in her community. Thanks to the program, she has been able to continue her studies and dreams of being a professional coach to help other children in her neighborhood find a way to a better future in sports.
Their story shows that with the right opportunities it is possible to transform realities, even in the most vulnerable places. “Claro, with programs such as the Claro Cup for Colombia, is committed to the comprehensive development of young people in areas affected by violence, because we believe that sports and education not only form better people, but also build stronger communities.” and resilient. With this type of programs, we make a Better Colombia possible,” the director stated.
