Cultural Educational Center Rebolo

Cultural Educational Center Rebolo

Since August 2008 three foundations have been working together on an educational project in Colombia which it is expected will be finished in March 2010. Niños en Contacto is cooperating with two Colombian partners, “La Gloria Postrera Hageo” and “Jovenes en Contacto”, to build a Cultural Educational Center in the impoverished neighborhood of Rebolo in Barranquilla.

The focus is on classes in basic computer skills and English language. The are skills that help increase the future chances of the children from this neighborhood on the labour market. To begin with there will be places for 64 pupils, but that will increase to 96 to 120 a year. The children that enroll in the programme will also go to primary school. The classes in the Center are in addition to the education they already receive.
Besides classes in computer skills and English language there will also be all sorts of other educational, cultural and sporting activities in which other youth from the neighborhood and local businesses will be involved.

Planning

In 2009 we will work hard to get the Center operational, so that classes can start in November. The Center will have its own site in the compound of La Gloria Postrera Hageo. This foundation is well established and has already been working for ten years as a rehabilitation center for drug addicts and has an important function as a place where all sorts of social activities, including activities for children, take place.

At this moment they are building a two storey building with two classrooms and a little office. Before the center can start there are some things to be done. From the Netherlands Niños en Contacto is busy fund raising and applying for grants. The computers that have been donated also have to be transported to Barranquilla.

We also need an educational programme. This is mainly the responsibility of the partner in Colombia that’s going to run the Centre, the foundation Jovenes en Contacto. This foundation was established by a couple of motivated young people from Barranquilla who would like to help improve the situation of the children in Rebolo. It’s a very diverse group with English students, IT students and people for the cultural activities. From the Netherlands we also trying to get assistance from specialised organisations in developing the educational programme.