Newsletter 2025
We are pleased to share the first newsletter of 2025. We begin by highlighting the support of CANPACK Poland, which has financed the Educational Program for the first quarter of 2025.
Likewise, we also extend our gratitude to the Zurich University of Applied Sciences and the company b.telligent for donating used laptops for the Computer Room. The construction of which was completed thanks to the financial support from Athanassios Kolivras’ group of friends.
Wishing you a pleasant read and thanking you for your support.
Javier Palacio
Educational Program – Finish your High School
Established in 2021 with funding from CANPACK Colombia, this program aimed to assist young individuals who had left school due to academic difficulties. CANPACK Colombia financed the program until April 2024 and then the CANPACK Foundation in Poland provided additional support for four months in 2024. The launch of the 2025 Educational Program has been made possible by a generous donation from the CANPACK Foundation, which will cover the first quarter of 2025. We are immensely grateful for their ongoing support.
This program not only enables students to complete their high school education but also inspires and prepares them for higher studies. The educational program includes daily homework workshops and snacks. So far, 50 students have benefited, and 7 have successfully graduated from high school. By the end of 2024, we were supporting 20 young people, aged between 8 and 17 years old.
Given the program’s success, in 2025 we are expanding the initiative to include 20 additional students with academic deficiencies. This year, we have 40 students divided into two groups: one for returning students and another for new students who require additional support and academic leveling. Remarkably, we have achieved this within the same budget, thanks to the students’ eagerness to learn and the dedication of teachers Juliana and Max Casasbuenas, who lead the program with passion. They inspire students not only to complete high school but also to pursue higher education.
We continue to seek funding to keep the Educational Program running beyond May 2025. Without educational support, these students face major challenges in continuing their studies. Many lack family support, as their parents did not have the opportunity to attend school. Additionally, they do not have a quiet place to study due to their difficult living conditions. The daily meals, clothing, and shoes we provide—thanks to generous donations, mainly from Belgium—are crucial for their well-being and success.
Computer Room Construction & Laptop Donations
We are deeply grateful to our friends in Switzerland for facilitating the generous donation of 17 high quality laptops. The Zurich University of Applied Sciences contributed 12 devices, while the consultancy firm b.telligent provided 5 laptops. Additionally, we extend our sincere thanks to Mr. Heino Erhardt, who personally covered the costs and navigated the complex customs process to ensure the successful delivery of these valuable resources. Our Computer Room started with two computers generously donated by César Victoria from Santa Marta.
Furthermore, Athanassios Kolivras celebrated his birthday by gathering his friends and requesting donations instead of gifts, which helped complete the construction of the Computer Room. We would like to thank: Athanasia Gkiouleka, Matthew Khouri, Christian Kappler, Alexander and Raphaella Eliasco, Mirko Glisic, Jasmin Battista, Jose Carlos Páez, Denis Florian, Tristan Baume, Sophie Glatt, Carina Manda, Michael Fleck, Orsolya Kurucz, Nicolaj Mortensen, Ellen Carey, Eduard Folch, Gloria Palacio, Claude Depasquale, Didier Perez.
Now, the students are learning Word, Excel, Photoshop, and other essential IT skills. The goal is to equip them with the necessary knowledge to study online from the new Computer Room. The nearest city, Santa Marta, where universities and technical institutes are located, is almost two hours away by bus. The high transportation costs and travel time often prevent students from pursuing further education or professional training. Thanks to the Computer Room, they now have a chance to continue learning remotely and access better opportunities.
Attached is a video featuring our educational program teachers and French volunteer Sylvain Renon, who helped launch the Computer Room in November 2024.
Volunteer Support & Donations from AMA Belgium
So far, our social initiative has welcomed 17 volunteers from different countries, who have travelled at their own expense to support our cause selflessly. In 2024, we were honoured to have Angèle Pique, Sylvain Renon, and Ausra Pivoriute join us.
Additionally, we continue to receive high-quality clothing donations from the AMA Association in Belgium. These donations, personally transported four times a year, are distributed directly to the students to ensure they are well-dressed and presentable.
Christmas Gift Donations
We sincerely thank Mrs. Stella Hernandez for the handicraft workshops she organized for the students throughout 2024. We also appreciate the kindness of Mr. Oscar Santana and his group of friends, who provided Christmas gifts and brought joy to the students in our educational program.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
Finally, we would like to express our deepest gratitude to everyone who has supported us—whether through financial contributions, educational materials, clothing donations, or volunteering their time.
Your generosity continues to make a difference in the lives of these young students.
Marcela Ordóñez, Athanassios Kolivras, Katia y Didier Perez, Néstor Bedoya y familia, Manuel Moreno y familia, Mirko Glisic y familia, Ayda Kaplan, Jasmin Battista y Familia, Claudia Orozco, Carlos Ospina, Tristan Baume y familia, Michele Stellato, María Angélica Arenas y familia. Lars Livrud, Astrid Stimpfl, Egle Urbonaite, Olga Jhonson, Max y Juliana Casasbuenas, Diomedes Sanguino, Hermenegildo Vergara, Zully Marques, Isabella Camargo, Marie-Astrid Ghion, Olga Nieto, Leandro Gil, Juan Marti, Martha y Gloria Palacio, Luis Fernando Chamie, Roberto Villaquiran, Marcela Vargas, Christian Kappler, Javier Palacio y el Grupo AMA de Bélgica.