Colombia’s costal area of Cali is a region suffering from serious economic deficiencies.  Sadly for the children, this translates into a lack of spaces in the area’s schools, meaning that many children will not have the chance for a decent education.   Corporación Educativa Popular (CPE) was founded in 1972 by 22 people interested in providing high-quality education to low-income children who are living in difficult conditions in the coastal area of Cali. 

CPE is a safe haven for approximately 700 of these children living in an area with poor sanitation and garbage collection, deficient public transportation, and excessive pollution.  Surrounded by green areas, the school is well-ventilated and provides plentifully-lit classrooms conducive to the children’s concentration and learning. In addition, the students receive nutritional support, allowing them to maintain the energy necessary for the school day.

Offering preschool through high school education, CPE promotes special projects and educational programs in a variety of areas including health, nutrition, ecology, computer science, and communications. Because one of the major problems in the area is garbage collection, CPE places special focus on their recycling program in order to produce items which can be resold, thereby making money for the school while simultaneously contributing to the welfare of the community at large.  In addition, the students receive nutritional support, allowing them to maintain the necessary energy for the school day.

Genesis Foundation has supported CPE since 2006 in a project that integrates information & communications technologies, ICTs, into the traditional curriculum (in areas such as Spanish, Mathematics and Sciences), and has promoted the development of technological and communicational skills in students. Today CEP has two new computer labs, has trained its teachers in the new methodology, as well as permanent Internet service for all its students and teachers.

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