Education Colombia Project #74781

Scholarship Pot: A Safety Fund for Scholars

by Children Change Colombia

Scholarship Pot: A Safety Fund for Scholars

Project Report | Sep 22, 2026
Bringing Our Scholars Together

By Victoria Cornelio | Communications Manager

Integration activity with the scholars and staff

This month, our team had the opportunity to spend a special day with our scholars from Santa Marta, Cartagena and Barranquilla during an integration day filled with activities, conversations and opportunities to connect.

For young people receiving scholarships, the journey is about much more than financial support. Having a community around them, people who believe in their potential, understand their experiences and encourage them along the way, can make a meaningful difference as they pursue their education and build their futures.

The integration day gave scholars from different cities the chance to meet one another, share experiences and strengthen the connections that make them part of a wider community. Through interactive activities and time together, they were able to celebrate their achievements, reflect on their journeys and look ahead to what comes next.

Why the Scholarship Pot Matters

Our Scholarship Pot makes these opportunities possible. It helps us continue supporting young people throughout their educational journeys, providing the financial assistance they need to pursue their goals and giving them access to a wider network of support.

For many of our scholars, a scholarship can be a crucial step towards creating opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach. But the impact doesn't end when a scholarship is awarded. We want to be there as young people progress through their studies, overcome challenges and move towards their ambitions.

Your support of the Scholarship Pot helps us continue investing in these journeys; one scholar, one opportunity and one future at a time.

Together, we can help more young people access education, realise their potential and build brighter futures for themselves and their communities

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May 27, 2026
New Scholars - Diana from Cartagena and Jeremy from Barranquilla

By Victoria Cornelio | Communications Manager

When we learned Diana’s story, we quickly understood why her name resonated so strongly during the scholarship selection process. Diana is not only a young woman with dreams; she is someone who, despite immense challenges, has chosen to move forward with hope.

She always carries a smile, even though her life has been marked by circumstances that would cause many to give up: a mother living with a rare illness requiring constant medical procedures, and a father who, despite the consequences of an accident, works tirelessly to support the family. Yet rather than holding her back, these experiences have shaped in Diana a deep sense of empathy, responsibility, and resilience.

Jeremy’s journey carries a similar strength. When our staff first met him, they saw him singing and dancing, even though he insisted he was not good at either. They saw him surrounded by friends while claiming he was not sociable, and quietly supporting others in moments of vulnerability despite insisting he did not feel things deeply. These contradictions revealed the depth of who he truly is: a vibrant young person shaped by discipline, sensitivity, and quiet courage.

Throughout his time in our youth leadership group, Jeremy consistently stepped toward discomfort and growth. He helped direct and perform in two theatre productions, contributed creative ideas, built technical and physical scores, and engaged thoughtfully in reflection circles. After the group’s second production, he told staff, “I think the mask finally broke.”

Both Diana and Jeremy embody what Children Change Colombia seeks to support: young people committed to their education, their communities, and the possibility of transforming their realities. Diana has become a leading voice within her community and is now studying Systems Engineering at Areandina University thanks to the support of Children Change Colombia and its allies. Jeremy has also begun his undergraduate studies in Software Engineering, carrying with him the same resilience and determination that have defined his journey so far.

Their stories are different, but together they reflect exactly why scholarships matter. Beyond access to university, they represent opportunity, dignity, confidence, and the chance for young people to imagine futures beyond the limitations they have faced. They remind us that when young people are supported, believed in, and given the tools to grow, their potential can reach far beyond themselves and create lasting impact within their communities.

Links:

Meet other scholars - Dennis and Keiner

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