Ara and UNICEF, supporting children’s education in Colombia
THE STATE OF CHILDREN’S EDUCATION IN NARIÑO
San Andrés de Tumaco is a distant municipality in Nariño, on Colombia’s Pacific coast, close to the south border with Ecuador. Almost 20% of its population is unable to read. The illiteracy rate doubles the national average, and only one in four children completes secondary school. It is a vulnerable population that faces significant obstacles in accessing comprehensive early childhood care and being able to make a smooth transition to the school system. This challenge primarily stems from the absence of an integrated service model that combines education, health, and nutrition.
By the end of 2023, there were 30,600 children in early childhood in Tumaco, from which only 11,400 (just over a third) were attending the early childhood development centres (CDI). Approximately 500 more aged below four received services from initial education units. Additionally, 5,400 children signed up for preschool in public schools, where the offer is open only for the transition grade, and 5,100 were attending private institutions.
ARA AND UNICEF: A PARTNERSHIP FOR EDUCATION, HEALTH AND NUTRITION
To help change this scenario, Ara has partnered with UNICEF in 2024 to implement the “Comprehensive Care for Early Childhood, Families and Caregivers” programme. The alliance seeks to ensure that children aged zero to five receive a broad support, including access to early childhood education, health services, and nutrition services. “Colombia is a country where nearly 500,000 children are born every year. We are aware of the needs of many of them throughout the country and we know that education is a powerful tool to transform their reality” said Nuno Sereno, CEO of Ara.
The aim of the partnership is to create a scalable and sustainable model that can be adapted and implemented in different regions.
Ages up to five years old are crucial for childhood development and for setting up strong foundations in educational processes, which can provide different horizons and new opportunities for these children. According to Tanya Chapuisat, UNICEF Representative in Colombia, “the partnership with Jerónimo Martins aims to provide comprehensive care to around 400 children and their families. The goal is to create a scalable and sustainable model that can be adapted and implemented in different regions where lots of children face vulnerable conditions”.
The programme between UNICEF and Ara seeks to deliver quality educational processes for children, helping them in transition across different care modalities, and enhancing pedagogical practices in the classrooms. It will focus on key aspects of children’s comprehensive development, such as fending off diseases and addressing comorbidities related to hygiene issues and malnutrition.
UNICEF and its implementing partners will accompany twenty child development centres from ICBF (Colombian Institute for Family Wellbeing) whose work takes place in Tumaco, from education and early childhood development to other matters related to health and nutrition, including immunization issues. UNICEF will support the harmonious transition of children who complete the process in the child development centres and start learning in school. Furthermore, it will support the Mayor’s Office of Tumaco to strengthen the work of local institutions.
Thanks to this partnership, it will be possible to provide support to 1,200 children, 40 teachers, 15 human talent professionals and 300 parents and caregivers.
