My name is Carolina Amorocho-M. I am a Biologist graduated from Universidad Nacional de Colombia, with a Master’s degree in Science Teaching from Boston University. As an educator, I am committed to empower youth and build equity through science learning. I am convinced that education is the most effective trigger of social transformation and that educating ourselves in scientific thinking allows us to understand the world critically, with a curious and solution-oriented approach. It is my passion to build day by day, through my work as a teacher, an equitable future.

I am Yuliana Palacio, a foreign languages teacher from Universidad de Antioquia. I am passionate about education, languages and the educational policies that have an impact on the construction of a more just and equitable society. I am convinced that education has the power to transform people’s reality and break social inequality cycles that are perpetuated in Colombia. I believe in ConEducación because having grown in a difficult social context myself, education changed my life. That is why I want to contribute so that less privileged students have the education, support, resources, and training they need to make their dreams come true and that we can together build a better country. Students, teachers, their aspirations, their strength and desire to overcome adversity are the engine that moves me.

Liz Burgos – I am a psychologist from Universidad Nacional de Colombia and Magister in Public Management from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana. I celebrate becoming part of ConEducación because I recognize the importance of professional mentoring since the beginning to those students who are discovering the emancipatory power of building knowledge through education.

Also, I express that my own experience has allowed me to be a testimony on how fostering access to higher education is one of the most effective remedies to cure the inequality that suffers the Colombian society. 

I am Maribel Betancur Quiceno, Foreign Language Teacher graduated from Universidad de Antioquia, English teacher at UdeA at the PINJ regions program and adjunct professor at ITM. I love animals and nature, and I firmly believe that the social change we need is in Education’s hands. I have worked on projects in territories and have seen first hand how hard it is in the Colombian context for students from rural areas to access higher education and change their realities. I decided to be a mentor for Somos Bachilleres because I want to do my part to make a positive change in our country.

My name is Ederson Silva Londoño and I graduated from Universidad de Antioquia from the Foreign Languages Teaching program. I am currently pursuing my master’s degree in France. I wanted to be part of the Somos Bachilleres program in order to contribute to the construction of a better future for young people in Colombia with some of the highest needs, hoping that more young people with limited resources have the opportunity to change their lives through education, just like I did.

Alexandra Anturi Murcia – I am woman, social worker and feminist from Universidad Nacional de Colombia. Mother to a beautiful boy, Tomás Amarú, who is 9 years old. I currently live in Montreal, Canada, after finishing a Master’s degree in Social Work at University of Montreal. I currently work with immigrant and refugee children, youth and families from many different parts of the world. I am passionate for community work and social justice. I deeply believe in the transforming power of public education, accessible to all and of high quality, because thanks to it I was able to study, be the first professional graduated in my family, and think of the possibility of having a different future. 

I love being part of Somos Bachilleres, this powerful and transformative project that will allow me to support the dreams of young students from rural areas from our country to access higher education. Here we are, offering our heart 🙂

I am Juan Esteban Salazar Pérez, I am from Gómez Plata, a town in the north of Antioquia. I consider myself a family man because my wife and son are my motivation. I am a Petroleum Engineer graduated from Universidad Nacional and I currently work at a drilling company. I am a very calm person, in my free time I try to read, watch movies or TV series, and spend time with my family. 

I participated as a guest speaker in a forum and I identified myself with the young students ConEducación works with, because when I was in high school I did not have someone to look up to professionally and I think that affected the time it took me to start college. I know that at that age, 15 or 16 years old, it is very important to have someone that guides you to discover your potential or your own dreams, so I join Somos Bachilleres and try to help as much as I can.

David Amorocho Montaña – I am a person that, from music, pedagogy, and social work, has been interested in the integral development of children and youth. I have worked in various education institutions and public and private organizations that look to offer and improve the life conditions, education, and health of children, youth, and their families. I have an undergraduate and postgraduate degree, I have lived in Colombia and Canada. 

I want to volunteer at Somos Bachilleres 2023 because I consider there are huge inequalities in our country, between rural and urban areas, related to access to education and that these gaps need to be closed so there is overall wellbeing and prosperity in our society. Also, I think it’s important that people from the cities get closer, become sensitive, and get to know the realities that youth in rural areas experience.

My name is Lina Muñoz Hoyos. I am a biologist, graduated from Universidad Javeriana. I had the opportunity of having my Master’s degree in Biotechnology in Spain funded by a grant by Fundación Carolina. Currently I am in Germany doing my PhD in Life Sciences. I am a fervent believer that education is fundamental for transforming lives and taking a stand on relevant matters. In addition to helping promote projects like this that aim to transform communities, I wanted to be part of ConEducación in order to contribute to build a more equitable country, sharing knowledge with Colombian students and guiding them on their educational path.

Nelson Correa – I am little bit stubborn, when an idea gets in my head I work hard until I come through with it, sometimes it even is hard for me to sleep. I am a dreams communicator, a social leader, with experience in community work, construction and implementation of public policy. I like to always make a difference in this little piece of Earth that was assigned to me. I believe in the discussion of ideas, not people. 

When I met the co-founders, I was filled with pride and excitement. At some point I said: “whatever I can help you with, count on me, I will do it gladly” and here I am. Part of this beautiful cause.

Cindy Mallely Bohórquez Rúa – I am an English and French teacher – I wanted to be a teacher since I was 7 years old. I love teaching and learning, working with rural communities, traveling and getting to know people from all over the world that exchange aspects of their cultures. I also like teaching Spanish to foreigners and share with them our Colombian culture. 

I decided to be a volunteer at Somos Bachilleres because serving rural communities is in my nature, given they are communities that do not have easy access to a variety of programs, activities or knowledge. As a volunteer here I can give to young students’ personal and academic process, sharing my experiences as resident in a small town and as a student at a public university.

My name is Luis Felipe Sánchez Ramos, I am a Mechanical Engineer student and passionate about knowledge and spreading knowledge. I am a fan of cars and the automotive world, and I enjoy learning about it. Additionally, throughout my life as a student I discovered that teaching and helping others understand concepts thanks to my explanations makes me happy. I decided to be part of Somos Bachilleres because I know first hand how being a teacher can change lives and positively impact the future of people. I am always willing to offer a friendly hand to someone who needs it.

My name is Sandra Arévalo Pérez and I am a historian, graduated from the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana. My passion is History and I have been working on teaching history for several years in some schools in Bogotá. I am very happy to be part of the Somos Bachilleres program because I firmly believe that through education young people can have more equitable opportunities. And thus, contribute in some way to make Colombia a more just place.

I am Julián Naranjo. I studied Political Science at Universidad Nacional de Colombia and a Master’s in Latin American Studies at the University of Amsterdam, in the Netherlands. Even though I am not a formal teacher, I am passionate about education and its ability to offer different perspectives and life opportunities. Teaching at this space offered by Fundación ConEducación is a joy for me. I love being able to share with students from different regions in Colombia committed to their processes and dreams of building a better future for them, their families, and their contexts.

My name is Andrés Herrera Tequia. I’m a Biologist with a Master’s in Biochemistry graduated from Universidad Nacional de Colombia. I’m currently a PhD Candidate in the Department of Biological Chemistry – University of Michigan Medical School. My research focuses on how bacteria regulate gene expression that enable colonization and infection. My interest in being part of ConEducación comes from my belief that access to education transforms lives and breaks barriers. Coming from a family where my parents did not have the chance to study beyond elementary o high school, I’ve witnessed first hand how education opens doors to possibilities that I would have never imagined I could access when I was a teenager. It makes me really happy to contribute with my knowledge to help students overcome these barriers to higher education.

I am Andrés Felipe Cardozo, Chemistry Teaching student at Universidad Distrital. I consider learning science allows the education of critical people, able to make reasonable choices for their health and the environment, and to analyze news that influence their daily lives. I decided to volunteer at Somos Bachilleres because I want to use this space to gain experience in my area of knowledge by having more student-facing time, strengthening my communication skills, and trying out strategies that help boost students’ Chemistry learning.

My name is Andrea Gómez, I’m a Biologist and Environmental Engineer graduated form Universidad de los Andes and I’m finishing my Master’s in Rural Development at UFRGS-Brazil. As an educator, I worked for two years at an alternative-teaching school in Bogotá as chair of Biology Department and Science, Chemistry and Math Teacher. I believe in education not only based in concepts and discourse, but also in experiences that foster a critical view of knowledge and the world. I’m part of Somos Bachilleres because I believe that, as a professional graduated from an excellent university, I have the responsibility to give to the education of children that do not have the same luck I did.

I am Helena Quesada, mother of Juana, Sara and Lucciana. I graduated as Bachelor in Literary Studies and have been a Literature teacher since 1999.

I decided to volunteer at Somos Bachilleres because it makes me happy to know I can share some of my knowledge of language, literature, and standardized tests.

Elkin Alfredo Alfonso Valenzuela – I am a committed teacher, with experience teaching science in high school – Biology, Physics, and Chemistry. 

I decided to participate in Somos Bachilleres because I want to help students who do not have access to academic support, due to geographic or economic reasons.