Fundación Mamonal is a non-profit organization founded in 1975 with the aim of promoting social development in vulnerable communities in Colombia’s Caribbean Coast. Each year over 50,000 residents of this region reap the benefits of Mamonal’s projects.  The majority of the projects’ beneficiaries are students under the age of eighteen.  The Foundation represents many companies affiliated with the Colombian National Association of Businesses (ANDI) encouraging their social responsibility and investment in the region. Operating in the city of Cartagena, the foundation designs and implements educational programs; supports productive projects executed by third parties; and provides recommendations to the business sector regarding social matters.

The region faces a complex situation regarding the quality of the education offered by the schools and the high percentage of children who drop out of school at early ages. In response to this situation, Mamonal launched the program “Promotion of Children’s Learning Processes and Integral Development (Padrino)” to guarantee access and permanence in the regular educational system. The project focuses on preschool and elementary students throughout three lines of intervention 1) Improvement of school environment and materials, 2) Nutritional and health services and 3) Teacher training and child development. Mamonal seeks to promote education and development while lowering the high drop out rate.  The program benefits over 350 preschool and first grade students in the school Institución Educativa Técnica de La Boquilla in Cartagena.

Genesis supported the project “Promotion of Children’s Learning Processes and Integral Development” for two years and in 2008 it began to support another project from Fundación Mamonal in the School Antonio Nariño in Cartagena. The project aims at improving the quality of the services provided by the school throughout teacher training, strategic planning and work with parents and the community. The expected results of the project include strengthening of the pedagogical curriculum, improvement of teacher’s pedagogical skills and the development of specific comprehensive projects.