Columbus School students taught robotics to students from other schools at the Buen Comienzo Volviendo a lo Simple festival at Plaza Mayor in Medellin on September 28-October 1.

Buen Comienzo Volviendo a lo Simple is organized by the first lady of Medellin, Margarita Gomez every year to help kids from 7 to 12 years old learn new skills like photography, art, music, and technology. TCS is participating through Faro, the Columbus School Foundation, and sending 5 12th grade students to teach robotics.

“It is basically a festival all the children’s from 7 to 12 are invited to participate in different themes, the school and some of the students will teach kids about robotics,” Julian Zuniga, Columbus School Robotics Teacher, said.

During the program, they’ll build and program LEGO robots, in order make them function. The construction starts from scratch, and the students involved in the program help work with the final product.

“The activity was to build Lego robots, and it took about 40 minutes, and we helped around when kids were having problems when building,” Valentina Agudelo, Columbus School Robotics Student, said.

This event is increasing its popularity since very important private schools such as Marymount, Montessori, Cumbres and La Enseñanza are part of this program. Also, companies are invited to teach students various subjects.

“It is in all Plaza Mayor, there are different themes, inside our section, there are other companies that are showing different things that there are doing, in the Pabillon Azul,” Zuñiga said.

Buen Comienzo brings education and provides students with fewer resources materials to learn with. Volunteers have the opportunity to interact in a professional and personal way with the students in a safe space full of confidence.

“It was a very fulfilling experience because we could see the kid’s happiness and that made us feel very happy about our self’s because it was something that was innovated for them, something that they were not used to seeing it, many of them ask if they can take them home,” Miguel Velasquez, Columbus School Robotics Student, said.

Many people attended the event and Zuñiga’s team had a great time by sharing their knowledge with students from other schools.

“I felt happy with myself, happy with the job I have done, and also with the fact that I also helped several families that I knew that they couldn’t really live  experiences like that very often.” Velasquez said.