TOM Colombia 2019 will be hosted by The Columbus School for the third year in a row from October 3rd to 5th.

Tikkun Olam Makers is a project introduced by Hector Londoño in 2016. He discovered what it was in Israel, and decided to bring it to Colombia. TOM is a global movement of communities that creates and disseminates affordable solutions to neglected challenges of people living with disabilities. Its vision is a world in which technology and innovation allow every person access to affordable solutions for his or her needs. Since TOM is relatively new to Colombia the board leaders like to upgrade the event each year.

“After TOM we always get feedback from other people, what we need to do, how we can improve and what we did well. Based on that feedback we prepare the plan for next year,” Londoño said. 

TOM is a significant event that has had a meaningful influence on a lot of peoples’ lives. As a result, the school wants more students to be involved so the impact and the learning can be greater. 

“Here at school we are trying to get more students involved. We take advantage of the makers that we have who are experts in their fields, they go to the classrooms and talk to the students so they get more interested in TOM,” Londoño said. 

According to Londoño the event involves around 1500 people; consequently, a committee of organizers has to delegate tasks to smaller groups to ensure everything is finished when October comes.

“TOM is split into two groups: the makers, that are the ones who design the prototype, and the volunteers that make the event feel more humane,” Maria Cuartas, 12th grade student, said.

In the end, what the TOM board aims to do is help other people, improve the quality of life of those in need, and teach students about how to change lives in the process.

“We find people with disabilities who have a specific need, something they can’t buy. The makers transform that need into a real prototype, that helps increase their quality of life,”  Londoño said.