Caja de Compensación Familiar CAFAM, created in 1957, is a non-profit social development organization based in Bogotá offering programs in the areas of health, education, technical training, recreation, family subsidy and social development to its affiliated workers, their families, and to the community in general.  The organization seeks to promote the personal growth and improvement in the quality of life of not only their affiliated workers, but of the general population as well.  With programs covering such a broad spectrum, CAFAM is able to touch the lives of thousands of people from age four up through age 65.

Under its Education Subdivision, CAFAM strives to develop each individual’s capacities, not only by fostering their personal development but also to contribute to the betterment of Colombia. In addition to its work in preschools, CAFAM owns two schools and administers four in alliance with the Secretary of Education. Other programs are focused in the areas of vocational training for high-school students, small and medium-sized business development, adult continuing education, improvement of teachers’ pedagogical approaches, and the “Centro de Referencia y Oportunidades” aimed at helping children demobilized from the illegal armed groups. CAFAM has developed its own pedagogical models, which have shown to be effective at local, regional and national levels. 

Through education, CAFAM aims to prevent students from dropping-out of school.  This is done through the implementation of comprehensive intervention strategies sensitive to the students’ real needs. To this end, strong emphasis is placed on vocational training, as it is an essential component to the students’ future success. An innovative pilot program benefiting more than 100 students from the CAFAM schools offers them school reinforcement in the necessary subjects, vocational training workshops in technology, design, arts and communications, and preparation for work and entrepreneurship. 

Genesis has supported the vocational training program for students in ninth and tenth grades in four schools and now each school has its own micro-business. With skills acquired through these programs, students get better oriented towards success in future professional endeavors once they graduate from high school.