8th Graders Visit La Guajira, Support Indigenous Communities

Colombus School 8th graders  traveled to La Guajira to support the indiginous community by bringing donations and construction supplies students gathered with the help of the Columbus School Foundation.

The trip took place over the Thanksgiving break, with 80 students and chaperones traveling first to Rio Hacha before heading out for the indigineous community called Kascajalito, located in the upper area of the department.

The donations to the Cascajalito community included clothes, cleaning supplies, utensils, canned food, powdered milk, ceramic tile donated by Corona.  Teachers believed this trip was be a life based experience.

“This trip is important since the people take advantage of it and use it as a worthwhile life experience,” Sociales teacher Freddy Mesa said.

The students that  helped the people in the Kascajalito community enjoyed the donations, games and the activities that were given and proposed to each family the children in the community enjoyed the games a lot. After the games, the students shared a snack with the children in that community.

“It is a valuable learning experience for the students,” Mesa said.

The social work in La Guajira was the most important life experience of the trip for the students because they interacted and learned to help the other communities that have necessities like Cascajalito community.

“For me the social work day was the most important because we interacted with other culture with different values” Mesa said

In La Guajira, the students participated in a pedagogical walk. As part of the excursion, students learned about the native vegetation and plants used by the indigenous community.  They also assissted in the planting of native crops and trees destroyed by Hurricane Otto in October of this year.

“A social impact trip was most important. The planting of native crops and trees to assist in the recuperation of the vegetation of La Guajira has a major impact.” Sociales teacher Luz Myriam Arango said.

While students had lots of opportunities for fun, the focus was to help the indigineous communities of La Guajira impacted by prolonged drought and recent flooding caused by Hurricane Otto.

“The planting and the social work helped me value what I have and the opportunities I was given.” Juliana Mesa said

Additional donations given to the indigenous communities of La Guajira were transported by truck from Medellin and included a toilet with cleaning supplies, tools and school supplies including desks and book shelves.  These supplies will equip an entire school for the community.

“Compared to the last trip to La Guajira and the donations given the people was more generous with the things they gave” Mary Luz Mesa. “When we were in the community I felt really happy to help and to give the donations to the Cascajalito Rancheria” Valeria Sierra said