Closing Social Gaps Through Education Equity & Collaborative Work - Yuliana Palacio Ortiz, Impact Maker
In ConEducación, we are committed to closing social gaps through educational equity and collaborative work. As part of this endeavor, we have been running our program Somos Bachilleres for about 16 months. Through this program, we have been working closely with 36 high school seniors from rural areas in Colombia to ensure they access higher education.
Through the actions we have taken, we have established a close relationship with students, families, and schools.
Students: Every Saturday of their senior year, students meet with our volunteer teachers for three hours in order to get academic support and training that will allow them to succeed in the standardized national test that students need to take in order to be considered for admission in a public university. Additionally, students participate in two-hour group workshops every two weeks with our psychosocial support team. In these workshops students explore different career pathways and educational possibilities, get familiar with the college application process, financial aid and learn life skills that will allow them to be successful once in college. Finally, every student is closely supported by a mentor who is in close contact with the student and complements in a more personalized level the aspects addressed in the group sessions. Mentors also help students in the creation of a career plan and support them in the application and registration process to college. In other words, mentors are always there for our students overcoming every challenge encountered along the way.
Families and schools: In ConEducación we work closely not only with the students, but also with their families, schools and community. Communication with families is crucial so that the universities students apply to and the city they move to, suit the financial capacity and the needs of the whole family. School leaders also play a very important role when it comes to keeping the students motivated and persevering through the program. We also problem-solve connectivity issues by partnering with them in the municipalities where our students are and make sure our former students become a role model for their peers in their communities.
Resources: In ConEducación, we provide students with resources such as tablets to those students who do not have a personal electronic device to access our classes every week. Additionally, we cover the application fees which are oftentimes the first barrier families encounter as part of the college application process.
Visits: Because we want to go above and beyond for our students, getting to know them remotely is not enough. We have had the opportunity and privilege of visiting our students in the different municipalities where they are located. These visits allow us not only to experience their realities and struggles, but also to build a much closer relationship that brings as a result higher motivation on the part of the students.
As a result of these actions, currently, 8 of our students from last year are already enrolled in a higher education program and express both their gratitude and desire to support our incoming students. Furthermore, our current cohort is getting ready to take the national standardized test in September. They are feeling more prepared and empowered to transform their reality through education. Considering our students come from very remote rural areas, are first generation students and do not have the resources in their towns to access any training for the test, our program is very unique and extremely benefits the students, their families, communities and ultimately, the Colombian society as a whole.