By Lilibeydy Manrique | Project leader
Dear GG friends,
We started the year with exciting news: our school experienced its first international learning experience. Two of our middle and high school students traveled to India to participate in a youth leadership camp.
Each year, Teach For India organizes a national leadership camp that brings together students from across the country and neighboring regions. This year, Colombia was invited as a guest country through Teach For Colombia. Our school was nominated, and two students applied and were selected for the program. Haider, 16, is in tenth grade, and Jhoselyn, 14, is a ninth grader. Over the course of one month, we organized a fundraising campaign to cover the travel expenses for the two students and one accompanying teacher. On February 2, we departed on this unforgettable journey.
We arrived in Mumbai on February 4 for a four-day camp. Throughout the program, students explored what it means to lead themselves in order to create change in the world. They discussed the challenges education systems face globally and reflected on ways to improve them. Many conversations centered on bringing greater purpose into learning, making classes more experiential, and fostering cultures of love, belonging, and joy within schools. Our students were also deeply moved to learn that even in the 21st century, many girls still leave school at an early age due to challenges such as menstrual hygiene, family labor, or harassment. These discussions expanded their awareness of the issues the world is currently facing and strengthened their conviction that education can be a powerful path toward a better future. One of the songs they learned during the camp captured this spirit perfectly: “We are the change we are waiting for.”
During the experience, Haider and Jhoselyn also met students from visiting countries such as Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Armenia, and Malaysia. During a cultural night, they shared music and rhythms from their respective cultures and learned about each other’s traditions and cuisine. The entire experience took place in English, giving our students the opportunity to practice the language in real-life conversations. Thanks to the bilingual education they receive at our school, they were able to communicate confidently with peers from around the world—an experience that reinforced the value of being bilingual in an increasingly interconnected world.
After the camp, the students continued their journey by visiting one of the world’s most iconic landmarks, the Taj Mahalin Agra. They also explored New Delhi, India’s capital, before returning to Mumbai to spend four days in Dharavi, one of the largest informal settlements in the world. There, they shared time with local residents and community leaders. The purpose of this visit was to foster exchange and begin building a bridge between Dharavi and Siloé, the community where our school is located. Both places face similar challenges—poverty, environmental concerns, and limited public investment—yet they also share a powerful sense of resilience and community strength.
On February 17, we returned to Colombia with a suitcase full of stories and a renewed commitment to leadership. Haider and Jhoselyn are already sharing what they learned with their classmates and are preparing to lead an environmental project at school. Haider, who serves as the school’s vice president, will also play an active role in strengthening student leadership and participation.
Thank you for believing in the transformative power of education. We hope that throughout this year we will continue sharing stories of student growth, leadership, and new global experiences. Together, we are nurturing thoughtful, compassionate young people who care deeply about the world around them.
Please stay tuned for the Little by Little campaign, which begins on March 17. During this campaign, all donations up to $50 will be matched by 50%. We invite you to share this opportunity with friends and family so that more people can join and support our students. Every contribution, no matter the size, makes a difference.
With gratitude,
Teacher Lily
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By Lilibeydy Manrique | Project leader
By Adarley Manrique R. | Project leader
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