Innovative training program

Fundaec - "Agents of Change"

Columbia is characterised by a high rate of crime and violence as well as extreme poverty, rural exodus and the missing access of the rural population to education. The NGO Fundaec, Foundación para la Aplicación y Ensenanza de las Ciencias (foundation for the application and teaching of the sciences), was established in 1974. The goal was to develop, together with the rural population, an adequate school system. Those abilities should be taught to the participants that will enable them to become active as “agents of change” in their rural or urban surroundings. They should bring about a positive change through creativity and initiative. 

Research and concrete projects

Fundaec brings together the traditional knowledge of the natives with the potentials of modern science and intellectual insights. On this basis, it does research, trains and promotes concrete projects. The fields of research and activity that Fundaec is systematically establishing include agriculture, education, technology, business foundations and community development. 

A positive image of man

The basic prerequisite is the conviction that man possesses the potential to remove life-impairing grievances. 

Teaching material related to practice
The conclusion of the last stage of education is equivalent to a high school diploma and enables the students to attend university training. The curriculum is interdisciplinary and structured in such a way that the acquired knowledge can be applied directly and practically in the daily life.

Data & Facts

Fundaec

Location: Cali, Columbia

Goal: School system for youth in rural areas. Besides general education, coherences concerning development politics are to be found in the curricula. Fundaec furthermore supports agrarian production facilities that convey to the population in courses the processing and commercial exploitation of native fruits and vegetables.

“We don't impose our knowledge, we share it. The system adapts itself to the people and not the other way round” according to the tutor Juan Gómez.