Supporting Education for Rural Colombian Children

Please donate to my fundraising project ‘Supporting Education for Rural Colombian Children’ for helping 21 young school children (8 primary studies, 13 from the secondary studies) of the ‘Institución Educativa Pena Blanca, located in Providencia, a rural area of the village of Puente Nacional, Santander, Colombia. The funds raised will be used to ensure that each of the 21 children has a school uniform, a pair of shoes and a pair of sports shoes, and a set of school supplies for the 2019 school year. Any remaining funds will be used for buying sports equipment such as sports balls, gymnastic mats, jumping ropes and to renovate the school’s sports court. 
 
Why am I interested in this charity project?

Many of the children who attend Providencia schools have to walk more than two hours a day to get to class.  Having access to footwear is a necessity. I attended the school I am raising funds for, and along with the majority of the Providencia school children, I was also raised in a low-income and low educated farming household, where the average daily income was less than $1 CAD per day with agriculture and cattle being the primary source of the economy. However, despite all the challenges I learnt basic reading, math and writing skills, and was able to pursue secondary education and university studies. Against all the odds I went onto achieve Masters and PhD qualifications in Public Health. Thus, I am convinced that education is a vital social factor to help people improve their life pathways, to make more sensible life choices, to understand, express, participate in everyday life tasks and experiences, and to raise better, more capable, healthier generations.
 
Thank you for supporting my charity project to help the educational journey of the children of my ancestral rural community in Colombia.
 
Dr Cilia Mejia-Lancheros