Final v4 0

BUILDING A COUNTRY WITH INCLUSION AND DIVERSITY APPROACH 1

Men are equal.

It is not birth but virtue that

makes the difference.

Voltaire

BUILDING A COUNTRY WITH INCLUSION AND DIVERSITY APPROACH 5

Building a countrywith Inclusion and Diversity Approach

BUILDING A COUNTRY WITH INCLUSION AND DIVERSITY APPROACH BUILDING A COUNTRY WITH INCLUSION AND DIVERSITY APPROACH6 7

In order to “fight poverty we have to increase

the skills of the individuals” (1). But those

individuals skills are also social skills in their

exercise and they are subject to collective

assessment processes: “the individual skill or

ability of appropriation (learning) does not

depend only on the intrinsic attributes of the

persons but also on the social appreciation of

those attributes” (2).

And the social stereotypes and stigmas are

precisely the ones that measure the knowledge of

the Afro-Colombians and Indigenous minorities

in Colombia, one of the most efficient inequality

causes, that is why we need affirmative actions that

enable, on one hand, their access and permanence

in high-quality education and training programs

that raise their labor competences, and on the

other hand, that break the barriers of invisibility

and raise the social appreciation and assessment

of these competences, in this way breaking the

chains of exclusion and lack of opportunities for

these populations.

Within this context, this document gathers the

successful experience of the PROGRAM OF

EDUCATION AND TRAINING AND LABOR

HIRING FOR AFRO-COLOMBIANS AND

INDIGENOUS VICTIMS OF COLOMBIA’S

ARMED CONFLICT that is being carried out in

Colombia thanks to the generous support of the

people of the United States. Beginning with the

initiative of the Program for Afro-Colombians

and Indigenous of USAID we have been able

to build a virtuous network of alliances with

the PUBLIC SECTOR, the PRIVATE SECTOR

and BASE SOCIAL ORGANIZATIONS, which

has enabled us to start on a path towards the

construction of a more equitable Colombia with

an inclusion and diversity approach.

GENTE ESTRATÉGICA CENTRO DE

FORMACION PARA EL TRABAJO AND ITS

STUDENTS, who are beneficiaries of this

program, share through these pages this

renewing experience, full of opportunities and

fulfilled dreams.

(1) REYGADAS, Luis. La apropiación. Destejiendo las redes de la desigualdad. México: Anthropos/UAM-Iztapalapa 2008. P. 55

(2) Ibíd., p. 60

Program for Education and Training andLabor Hiring for Afro-Colombian and Indigenous

Thanks to the effort from the following allies:

Building a Path ofInclusion and Diversity

• USAID

• ACDI/VOCA

• MINISTRY OF WORK

• DEPARTMENT OF

SOCIAL PROSPERITY –DPS

• PRESIDENTIAL

COOPERATION AGENCY-

APC

• MAYOR’S OFFICE OF

BARRANQUILLA

• GOVERNOR’S OFFICE

OF THE DEPARTMENT OF

ATLÁNTICO

• ANDI

• ASSOCIATION CONTACT

• CENTERS & BPO’s

• 450 COMPANIES THAT

HAVE OPENED THEIR

DOORS TO INCLUSION

• AFRODES

• ASOCOC

• ASOAFROCOL

How we

achieve it


Generating strategies of massive and transparent communication with the support from the public sector and base social organizations

Involving the business sector, the community and the base social organizations since the beginning of the program

Fortifying cultural identity through ethnicity education

Breaking the barriers of invisibility

Strengthening of the SELF conceiving of

peaceful and consenting environments in the

classrooms

Improving abilities and skills

Developing strategies that

promote the succesful labor

insertion

Developing strategies of phsychosocial accompaniment withinall phases of the process

Opening spaces for inclusion and workplace diversity

Connecting the beneficiaries with job

placement opportunities existing in the formal

economy sector

How we do it

How we do it


Businesses that support us

Bringing Opportunities for InclusionOver

450Businesses


Key Facts of theProgram in Colombia

Key Facts of theProgram in Colombia

The Academic Offer Proposal Responds To Job Opportunities Aimed At Priority Areas For The Colombian

Government Through The Ministry Of Labour.

The academic programs were designed from the demand in total joint With employers from the following areas of the industry:

Services Sector:• Contact Centers & BPO

• Hotel Management, Tourism

and Gastronomy

• Information Technology and

Telecommunications

• Electricity, Gas

• Retail

Port Logistics Sector

Manufacturing Sector• Auto parts, footwear.

Our Students’Life Experience


Innovative LearningEnvironment


Super Market School Contact Center School


Mechanic’s Training Center supported by the corporate sector Hotel School with the support of leading hotels in Cartagena




Cooking School – Bakery School


OurClassrooms


OurThoughts

OurThoughts

Pagina 23: My name is LUISA ALEJANDRA CARREÑO

CALDERON, I was born on January 11th, 1985 in San

Vicente de Chucurí. The names of my parents are

Adan Carreño and Blanca Calderón. I have a brother

and a sister. My sister Patricia is married and she

has three children and my brother Rogelio suffers

from epilepsy and he does not walk. My father died

of cancer when I was only 13 years old. He was my

best friend despite the fact that he did not live with

us. My mother has suffered very much because of the

violence.

We used to live in a farm that belonged to my

grandmother in the Guacamaya path. That place was

always invaded by armed groups. When I was only 11

years old those persons came to the farm and they

started to hit my mother and they threatened to kill

her because she did not give them information about

where the other group was hiding. My family and I

had to abandon the farm. Because of this, my mother

has psychological trauma. She does not have anyone

to help her and my brother. She survives from what

people give her. She does not have a home and every

day things for her are more and more complicated.

I did not have a nice childhood. I never played nor

enjoyed with my friends or with my brother and

sister in a park nor even with a ball because we were

always expected to hide and to be alert so that the

bad people would not hurt us. When I was only 11

years old, I studied. The school was a long distance

away from the farm. It was about a one hour walk to

get there on a road which I took to return to the farm.

Two uniformed men were waiting for me and they

grabbed me and abused (raped) me. The man told me

not to say anything to anybody about what he had

done to me because he said he did not do anything

and he also told me that if I said anything he would

kill someone in my family. I did not say anything to

my mother about what had happened, but after some

time I told my mother and she confronted the man

and he denied everything.

About one month later they came and they took my

mother and they hit her and they threatened her by

pointing a gun to her head and telling her that they

were going to kill her, but I begged and cried asking

them not to kill her and that is when they left her

alone. However, they told us that we had to leave

because if not they would kill all of us who were

there. Then we left just with the clothes that we had

on. All of our belongings stayed behind on the farm.

We stayed in the town and never again did we know

anything about the farm.

My biggest success has been studying at Gente

Estratégica by means of the scholarships for victims

of the armed conflicts. It is the best thing that has

happened to me, my family, my two children and my

husband. Today I am longing for a better future for my

children and I want to have my own home. This is my

life, thank you for your attention.

The Story of my life


OurThoughts

WUARNI KUNA INGAINGA INDIAN WOMAN

On date 11 – 11 – 1978 Maria Marlenny Jojoy Tisoy

was born in the city of Bogotá. She is a daughter of

an Indian mother and father who arrived to look for

a new life but they never thought that there would

be so many difficult things. One of the most difficult

things was to live in a hostel or tenancy occupation,

sharing a room with 15 persons. The sad thing was

that what while struggling to survive in those lands

they were forgetting the most important thing

which is to strengthen and conserve our culture

and customs. That, to this day, has been one of the

greatest problems of our Inga Indian people.

Today I am a mother and father of three beautiful

children who are 21, 16 and 5 years old for whom

I struggle constantly to provide them values, love

and the cares of our pacha mama, our mother

earth. At this time of my life I am part of a process

of strengthening and sensitization with a group of

women of Ciudad Bolivar called Network Women

who are producers that carry out social work, getting

training and education on topics such as public

policies for women and making changes in our town

by being leaders.

There I learned to give value to myself as a woman,

I learned to get training and education as a leader of

my Indian people and I learned to rescue all of the

things that I lost due to the change of territory.

I am a woman, a very spiritual woman who thinks

that human beings are sick of anger, arrogance,

greed and envy of other human beings. Today, I want

a good life for my children and myself, and to be able

to complete my studies and to help my Indian people.

I wish to obtain my own house and to improve my

quality of life. The fact that today I am here studying

at Gente Estratégica is thanks to a friend who is

an African-decent leader of Ciudad Bolivar. Her

name is Luz Marina Asprilla, and she made me see

how important it is to continue getting training and

education and to continue in the constant struggle

in order to obtain the things that we desire. I end by

saying the phrase that the most difficult for anyone

who suffers the inconveniences of every day life.

Let us think Suma Iviaia in my language that means

Think well.

Kaimamdam Kanchi ….. We are from here

Kaipim Kanchi ….. We are here

Indi kam nukon chipo taita ….. The sun is our father

Killa kam nukanchipa mama ….. The moon is our

mother

Student: Maria Marlenny Jajoy

OurThoughts


OurThoughts

My name is Mónica Patricia Casseres Cassiani. I

am proud to be of African-decent of the San Basilio

de Palenque community and I am very happy and

thankful for the carrying out and development of the

wonderful project of which today I am a beneficiary.

The program of education and training for work and

job placement directed towards the African-descent

and Indian populations gives me the possibility to get

trained as an assistant of labor relations and payroll

at Gente Estratégica Centro de Formación para el

Trabajo, where they have a group of exceptional

teachers and professors in the different modules to

which I had access for my education and training in

facilities that were very comfortable for my learning

process.

During my childhood and adolescence stage I saw

how from one generation to another of my family

that the economic activity that supported us was

the manufacture and sale of “bollos” (local corn-

bread) and “cocadas” (coconut sweets). My great

grandmother, my grandmother, my mother, my aunts

and cousins all work in this occupation; I did not

contemplate this lifestyle for myself, because I always

believed that there should exist other alternatives,

other options that could enable me to contribute to

improve the quality of life of my family in another way

and in such a way that would not cause me so much

physical wear and tear because this type of work is

very hard and financially it does not compensate so

much effort that is invested.

Due to lack of financial resources it was not possible

for me to study administrative careers because these

normally are studied in private entities that make it

difficult for my parents to be able to pay.

When I found out about this wonderful project

I presented myself without hesitation, I went

through the process of selection and fortunately I

was admitted. I went through my productive stage

at Sutherland Global Call Center in the area of

recruitment and selection. Today, after a year of

having gone through this process of education and

training, I continue being part of Gente Estratégica,

no longer as a student, now I am here as an employee.

I was hired as a labor relations assistant and there I

have put into operation all of the theoretical tools that

I learned during the classes; whenever opportunities

appear we have to make the most of them. Today I am

an example of progress and admiration in my family,

in my Palenque Community. The dreams yes they are

possible to build them and to materialize them with

help such as the help that is provided by this project

of the government of the United States that makes

ethnic inclusion a priority and provides jobs for the

least favored population, that without any doubt as

beneficiary of the project I can say with all certainty

that you have dignified my life and therefore the life

of my family.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH !

Dear Sirs

OurThoughts


OurThoughts

The date February 21st of the year 2006

at 12:00 am was an unforgettable date

for my humble family, it was the day on

which an armed group entered into our

humble and beautiful house and they murdered my

little brother who was only 2 months old, all of this

in order to make us leave the town. At that time my

father was not in the house, when my father on the

next day arrived to the house, my mother received

him with the tragic and sad news of that which had

happened. My father went practically crazy and he

went out to look for those persons while my mother

begged him not to do so and asked him for us to

leave, it would be better and for us to try to forget.

Unfortunately my father did not pay attention to

my mother and he left.

It was the last time that we saw my father because

on the next day they sent him dismembered in black

bags and they told the people to leave the town if

they did not want them to do the same thing to the

other people of the town and to my mother and

to her two children. That was when we arrived in

the city of Bogotá without having the support of

anyone not even of our own family, my mother and

we her daughters we were facing this hard and

crude reality, many times we asked ourselves why

do these things happen? And the most common

question which is what have I done to deserve this?

Questions without answers, me and my sister as

young as we were we did not understand anything

about what was going on. Only the pain of my

mother, many days my mother and us we slept in

the streets putting up with the cold weather and the

contempt of society.

We give thanks first of all to God and to Mrs. Diana

Suarez who saw my mother in those circumstances,

a young woman only 18 years old and here in this

city suffering in that way and with that sad story and

with two daughters whom she had to support Mrs.

Diana offered a job to my mother in a restaurant

and rented to her a room so that we could live in

that room, and that way my mother was able to pay

for a kindergarten for my sister and for me a school

and with horrible memories of that past so tragic,

many times we ask ourselves why this world is like

this, why do these things have to happen to us, all

of those persons or at least some of those persons

who make these things are enjoying life and many

times we do not have not even the opportunity to

study, but thanks to God I received the excellent

opportunity to be able to get education and training

in a career and to have a good work opportunity. I

give thanks to you with all my heart because thanks

to this we can move ahead and had dignified job.

OurThoughts


OurThoughts

Ladies and Gentlemen: Congressmen of the United States

Thank you for this opportunity that you have provided us to be able to study and

to become better persons because despite the fact that we are victims, I believe

that we also have the right to have a dignified job.

Thank you, thank you.

OurThoughts


OurThoughts

Bogotá

August 14th, 2014

Bogotá Capital District

Ladies and Gentlemen

Congressmen of the United States

Subject: Formal Gratitude

I am Jean Carlos Julio Pinto, identified with the Citizen Identification Card No.

1.026.584.548. I make use of this opportunity in order to thank you for providing us a great

life project where we can incorporate ourselves in order to have a maximum learning in

order to prepare ourselves as persons and to have a good job and success and to continue

learning much more in order to make progress in life.

I must continue giving you the thanks and appreciation for all of the things that you do,

may God bless you and keep you in his Holy Glory.

Jean Carlos Julio Pinto

Citizen ID Card No. 1.026.584.548

Centro de Formación para el Trabajo Gente Estratégica

OurThoughts


OurThoughts

On date 30th day of the month of March of the year 1999 we had to leave leaving

our house behind and everything that we had because of an armed group.

That day was unforgettable for all of us, something that some of us have been

able forget with the passing of time.

Some armed persons arrived and they murdered my father who was responsible

for us, because my mother had already died. It was something very hard because

we did not know where to go because my father was from Rionegro Antioquia

and we do not know his family and I would like to find them.

Because the family of my mother they are very few persons and they could

not help us, one of my older sisters with courage and effort got us out of that

place because one of my sisters suffers from epileptic attacks, she is special

(handicapped), we are three younger ones and three older ones at this time.

They helped us to move ahead and we stayed living in Bogotá, I completed my

high school somehow and I could not continue with my studies because of lack

of money.

I am working in the Contact Center and I am very happy because of this

opportunity that you have provided us, for a better job, for a better future and

to help my children and my handicapped sister and well if God allows to grow in

my job every day.

Cordially: Nilao Rios Rodriguez

OurThoughts


OurThoughts

Once upon a time, a great family that lived in a

beautiful field called “La Victoria”, that was the most

beautiful place that could exist, here there were

large green mountains, a large crystal clear river,

where every morning they spent all the time, they

were really happy to coexist with nature and the

animals; due to certain circumstances, that great

family had to be separated, some of its members

travelled to a city called Bogotá, this city was all

the opposite, it was cold’ cruel and overwhelming

among them there was a girl called “Lana” who full

of sadness because she had been separated from

her parents, she knew that she had to start all over

again and that is why she put all of her endeavor and

dedication in order to improve her life conditions

and the life conditions of her family, taking into

account that it would be difficult, because the great

coldness of the agitated city that she did not know,

sometimes she lost hope and that led her to give up

on her aspirations, but that was not an obstacle; one

afternoon like any other afternoon, after knocking

on many doors that never opened, she arrived at

a center of education of training called “Gente

Estratégica”, which opened its doors to her without

regards to her social condition, her race which it

respected from the beginning, her way of thinking

and expressing herself; the girl understood that this

was the place that she was looking for, this was the

great opportunity that she was waiting for in order

to begin to turn her goals into a reality, here she felt

comfortable, in a pleasant place that enabled her

to be like she was, without having to feign a perfect

and happy life, because all of her classmates shared

experiences that were similar to hers.

As time went by she felt more and more prepared

to open up new roads that would lead her to move

ahead something that she longed for so much in the

great city. She felt the need to say THANK YOU,

THANK YOU, THANK YOU. Today, there are only

words of appreciation for all of those persons, who

although they are near or millions of kilometers

away, who for one or another reason they give us

a helping hand in order to be able to improve our

lives in the great cold city, because the girl again

believes that everything could become a reality,

thanks to them, who directly or indirectly, provide

the support to little persons like her, so they can

recover the desire to continue living, to continue

struggling for her dreams and for having families

that are more and more united every day and a more

equalitarian and fair society with opportunities for

everyone.

End … I hope it will continue!!!

Author: Eliana Contreras M

Contact Center Group 1 – afternoon

Cordial greeting, this is my simple way of telling you Thank you.

“When dreams became a reality”

OurThoughts


OurThoughts

Barranquilla, September 2nd, 2014

“Due to ignorance people go down to serfdom,

due to education they go up to freedom.”

Diego Luis Córdoba

My name is Angelina Maria Simarra Miranda and I want to

share with you the experiences that I have gone through

beginning with my starting in the program of education

and training and acquiring a job for African-descent and

Indian people in year 2013 USAID/ACDI VOCA.

I am part of a beautiful family, since the time I was a little

girl I tried to be good and my parents always told me that

I should be better, as one of the essential factors for life.

I grew up in a neighborhood where most of the families

have unsatisfied basic needs, the life conditions

are precarious and the young boys and girls of the

neighborhood show little interest in studying and

reaching their goals. Every day I anxiously waited for the

opportunity to get professional education and training

and to build a prosperous future for myself and for my

family. When I was 16 years old we had a group of friends,

we organized a teenagers association that started with

the need to redirect the life of many young boys and girls

of the Nueva Colombia and La Esmeralda neighborhoods

who due to lack of opportunities they did not have a

life project that could enable them to improve their

conditions and the conditions of their families, to project

themselves professionally and personally.

On previous occasions I had heard of projects of

education and training for poor populations but none of

them had the differential component that could enable

us to strengthen our cultural traditions while we grew

up at the professional level. When the processes of

summoning and socialization of the project started I had

many doubts which were clarified during the classes.

I started the program of Administrative Assistant at

the Centro de Formación Gente Estratégica. We were

able to obtain a totally free education, they provided us

excellent facilities, study materials and transportation.

We had qualified professors and with the total handling

of the topics which facilitated the academic process.

Every day there was a motivation to attend the classes, to

see my neighborhood friends studying, the same friends

that before they only played dominos in the corner and

partying during the weekend. When the classes ended I

had the advantage of being one of the first students to

start practices in a large company which enabled me to

put into practice each one of the knowledges acquired in

the educational stage, besides the remuneration of my

work which enabled me to strengthen my family. After a

little time after having completed my practices I received

a phone call from the Selection Department of the Gente

Estratégica company. They informed me about a vacancy

for my profile without hesitating a moment I presented

my curriculum vitae. I was admitted and I signed a

contract on October 25th, 2013 exactly one year after

starting my classes in the project. Beginning at this time I

felt that the dreams and hopes can be came reached, that

each goal and project that you have for yourself or of your

family you can achieve it. Today I thank God and I thank all

the institutions, entities and organizations that make this

possible and that support this excellent work. Thanks to

your contribution many young African-Colombian men

and women we are able to turn our dreams into a reality.

OurThoughts


OurThoughts

THANK YOU

Good morning Ladies and Gentlemen Congressmen of the United States.

I am Alexis Tenorio, a Gente Estrategica student. I am getting training and

education in the area of logistics. I am very grateful to you because you give

many possibilities for persons like me to have the opportunity to study and get

training and education in order to acquire new knowledge and in this way to be

able to achieve the things that I wish to have.

I am African Colombian from the city of Tumaco (Nariño). I live with my mother

and one sister. The truth is that we are very unstable in the cities. Most of the

time we are staying in Bogotá because the city is pleasant and also it provides

work opportunities.

I went to the police in order to take the course. I went through the entire process

but I was not fit because I have a baby in my care. I did not know what to do

after that until I heard the news of Gente Estragégica that they provide help for

African descendants and Indians to work. The truth is that I did not hesitate to

enroll. So I talked about the news in my house and they supported me.Well then

I am here now thanks to you and to destiny.

Again THANK YOU.

Sincerely: ALEXIS TENORIO

OurThoughts


OurThoughts

I am a young leader of the African-Colombian

community, I live in the Nueva Colombia neighborhood,

I am the youngest of 13 brothers and sisters and today

I want to share with you the experiences that I have

had beginning with my participation in the program for

education and training and getting a job for people of

African-descent and Indians in the year 2013 USAID/

ACDI VOCA.

Since the time I was a little child I showed maturity

in order to assume the situations that presented

themselves in my life and I have tried to overcome

the barriers and to make good use of each one of the

opportunities that God has given me on the path of

life especially those that have to do with academic

education training.

In the middle of the year 2013 the African-Colombian

social organizations informed us that from the

government of the United States they were going to send

to Colombia resources destined to the strengthening of

the African-Colombian communities. Beginning at this

time they started a cycle of meetings and trainings in

order to know in what way we could participate and/or

benefit.

In the month of August of the year 2013 I found out

that the Centro de Formación Gente Estratégica was

carrying out a summoning with the support of national

and international organizations directed towards the

young African-Colombian people of the southern part

of the city of Barranquilla. Without hesitating I went

through the process of registration and enrollment

which was totally free and I started classes in the month

of October. From that time on I made up my mind to

complete the program, to project myself as an excellent

student with the goal of starting the process of practices

and starting to work in a good company. Thanks to my

performance my classmates appointed me as the class

monitor and that enabled me to have a direct relation

with the area of the academic coordinator´s office and

to let them know about my skills. Having completed my

education stage I started practices in a construction

company which is well known in the city and I did my

practices in the purchasing area. My duties were to

carry out the purchases of the constructions that

were in process and to handle the relations with the

suppliers. At the end of my practices stage I was hired.

Currently I am working in this company and I am the

person in charge of the purchasing department of two

large construction jobs that the construction company

is managing. I feel comfortable in my job and I have a

great professional projection and every day I try to do

everything better. Without any doubt each one of the

goals that I have reached up to today benefit my family

in a direct way. My mother is a sweets saleswoman and

today with my financial support we have been able to

improve our financial situation at home. I give my thanks

to God and to life for having enabled me to participate

in this project and I ask God to allow the entities that

contributed to this project to continue prospering and

receiving blessings so that this process may continue.

“The confidence in oneself is the first secret of success”.

Ralf Waldo Emerson.

Layoner Caceres CardonaAdministrative Assistant. Gente Estratégica Centro de Formación para el Trabajo

OurThoughts


OurThoughts

How does a person feel when she is only 14 years old and besides being a

victim of the armed conflict and one day someone sends a note to your

family, a note giving you a certain amount of time in order for you to leave

your home, to leave your land and if you do not do so they kill you, and also

if your parents do not tell you anything about what is happening and they only tell you

that at three in the morning you have to get up, get dressed and you have to go and there

is no time to take anything with you and you leave your house with absolutely nothing and

that beginning at that time your world, your surroundings change, that the things that you

knew are no longer there and that instead there appears a big city with people who go from

here to there and they do not know you,they don’t even see that you are there and that

you are a stranger and that you are someone that they do not even pay attention to, that

when more time passes everything is different and then one good day your parents tell

you to sit down and listen and they tell you what was the reason why you are in that great

city and then you understand that it has all been because of people who do not even know

you, that they are in a war or conflict without any meaning, that according to them they are

following some ideal in order to have a better country and they do not realize that the only

thing that they are doing is to cause more harm to the people.

But thanks to all those circumstances you have found more possibilities in order to have

a better future such as to study at Gente Estratégica with young victims of the armed

conflict so that they can have a better job, a better opportunity in life and a better future.

And in this way we can provide a better future for our families.

I thank you for the attention that you may give to this letter.

Sincerely

Noralba Tumay Tumay

OurThoughts


OurThoughts

Bogotá August 14th, 2014

Ladies and Gentlemen:



Subject: Gratefulness

Cordial greetings, my name is Kelly Johanna Salazar Pinzón. I am 19 years old, I was born in Villavicencio,

Meta, I am of Indian origin and thanks to you ladies and gentlemen I am studying Marketing Logistics, I feel

very happy because you have provided us the opportunity to obtain knowledge and experience through a

training center such as Gente Estratégica. I was born in a family that has very few financial resources. We

are simple people. We struggle Through. We are hardworking, but we have an immense cultural diversity.

My grandparents are Desanos; one of the 34 ethnic groups that exist in Mitú, Vaupes and of which I

feel very proud. I am a person who is confident in myself, with great charisma and am hardworking. This

experience for me has been very incredible and enriching because it has been another reason to move

ahead and progress. I long to have a sponsor in order to start my work experience and in this way to be

able to complete my university studies because I study Social Work but due to lack of financial resources

I have not been able to complete my university education. My family and my parents wish that you have

an excellent day, infinite blessings for you and your relatives “Colombia is not synonymous with war, drug

trafficking, cocaine or coffee, Colombia is synonymous with happiness, peace, hope, dreams, struggle.”

Thank you for supporting the Centro de Formación para el Trabajo Gente Estratégica, (Center of Education

and Training for Work Strategic People) Thank you !!

Sincerely: Kelly Johanna Salazar Pinzón

Marketing Logistics

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Barranquilla, August 14th, 2014



I am Mariana Rivera, a woman of African descent, I want to tell you how my life was

before entering this institution.

After completing high school I got pregnant and today I have three children, their ages

are 13, 7 and 3 years old. All of my dreams were paralyzed. It was impossible for me to

continue studying. Financially, it was impossible to continue studying, professionally or

technically.

Today thanks to the opportunity that you have provided me that dream that one day I

thought it was unreachable has turned into a reality. My children feel proud of me and I

also feel proud of my accomplishments. Also, I have the opportunity to provide a better

future for my family.

Again thank you very much and may God bless you.

Sincerely,

Mariana Isabel Rivera Barrera

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August 15th, 2014

Bogotá, Capital District.


Receive you a cordial and very affectionate greeting from me.

Today thanks to the universe, because through this piece of paper I express

my most sincere thanks. It is something so wonderful and unique this great

opportunity this great and magnificent support, in a country where there seems

to be a lack of opportunities and where the minorities we never are able to

achieve the visualization that we are important people and that really there are

more good persons than bad persons.

Thank you for choosing well and putting us in the hands of people who believe in

us, who believe in a better country such as is the case of Gente Estrategica. More

than an education and training program they have taught us that everything is

possible and that they have chosen us in a dignified way, appreciating us and

turning us into productive and valuable people for this country that needs it so

much.

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OurThoughts

Bogotá, August 14th, 2014




Subject: Personal Letter.Respected Ladies and Gentlemen:

My name is Claudia Patricia Cifuentes, I am 34 years old. I am a housewife mother of

two children. I wanted to tell you how important it has been for me the support that you

provide us for our education. In my personal case I was displaced by the armed conflict

and I could not complete my basic studies. I am forced to work in whatever came up and

many times they do not pay well or the work conditions are bad but thanks to Centro de

Formacion para el Trabajo I have the wonderful opportunity to receive technical training

and education and that provides me the opportunity to have a stable and well paid job.

This made me very very happy because I had not had an opportunity and from my point

of view that is the most important thing that can be provided to a human being because

beyond the fact that they give us a financial remuneration (wages) they also gave us the

tools so that we can look out for ourselves and survive on our own efforts.

I am happy because of this great opportunity and I hope to make the most of it because

I have not studied since 15 years ago and all of this is going to happen in my life thanks

to the support that you are giving us, believe me and from my heart I tell you that we are

thankful towards you from the bottom of my heart we are thankful for your generosity

with the Colombian people. From me I will always have in my mind and in my heart that

thanks to you my personal and family life changed.

Thank you very much

Claudia Patricia Cifuentes López

Citizen ID Card No. 36.496.207

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NAME: JORGE LUIS MANGONES GOMEZ

DATE: 14-08-2014: CENTRO DE FORMACION GENTE ESTRATEGICA

ADDRESS : BOGOTA CAPITAL DISTRICT

NEIGHBORHOOD: MARCO FIDEL SUAREZ

ORIGIN: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN CONGRESSMEN OF THE UNITED STATES

I am of Indian origin, born in the great shelter (reservation) of Vaupes, a region

that is not well known by the rest of the world, a region where the political

leaders have totally forgotten us.

Here is where you can truly see, you can truly feel and you can truly experience

the needs due to lack of education, help and the economy, because the cost of

living is very high due to this economy which is a survival economy.

I was able to get out of the department and travel to the capital of the country

and thanks to God I received the opportunity to go to “Gente Estratégica” where

they received me very well; where I am acquiring knowledge and I am preparing

myself for a work life and to be a good law-abiding citizen.

Again thank you very much to the USAID program, to the Ambassador of the

United States, to the congressmen (members of congress) of the United States,

to the Ministry of Work and to all the people who work in Gente Estratégica.

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Bogotá, August 14th, 2014


Respected Ladies and Gentlemen, by means of the present writing I

would like to thank you for such a valuable support that you provide

in order for us to have the opportunity to be able to study, I am an

Indian woman who belongs to the Department of Amazonas. I ask

you to continue helping this institution so that other persons like me

can have the opportunity to study and to have a job.

Again I thank you for the support.

Sincerely: Ayde Matapi Yacuna

[email protected]

Gente Estratégica

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Bogotá, Wednesday August 13th, 2014

Ladies and Gentlemen: Congressmen of the United States:

The present writing is in order to tell you that my process through Gente Estratégica has

been excellent, I did not have in mind to be able to study and prepare myself better because

my financial resources are very scarce. I thank you for the opportunity that you have provided

me. My name is Adriana Marcela Achuri, I am of African descent and also part of an Indian

council. I feel very happy and motivated because I want to become the best chef because

I am preparing myself as a kitchen assistant, to learn how to cook delicious and different

dishes. To have the opportunity to work as a chef in order to have a better quality of life. To

prepare and give a better education to my children. To work as a chef is my great aspiration

and the dream that I want to turn into a reality.

I live in Altos de Cazuca Soacha in a rented house. The place is poor but we are persons who

have many good values. Let me tell you that the names of my children are Jose, Juan, Santiago

and Mateo.

Thank you for your attention.

Sincerely

Adriana Marcela Achury

[email protected]

GENTE ESTRATEGICA

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Bogotá August 15th, 2014


This City

Reference: Letter of Gratefulness First of all thank you, a thousand thank you for this opportunity to be able to express my

words of gratefulness.

I am of Indian origin, born in the great shelter (reservation) of Vaupes, a region that is

not well known by the rest of the world, a region where the political leaders have totally

forgotten us.

Here is where you can truly see, you can truly feel and you can truly experience the

needs due to lack of education, help and the economy, because the cost of living is very

high due to this economy which is a survival economy.

I was able to get out of the department and travel to the capital of the country and thanks

to God I received the opportunity to go to “Gente Estratégica” where they received me

very well; where I am acquiring knowledge and I am preparing myself for a work life and

to be a good law-abiding citizen.

Again thank you very much to the USAID program, to the Ambassador of the United

States, to the congressmen (members of congress) of the United States, to the Ministry

of Work and to all the people who work in Gente Estratégica.

Thank you very much…

(signature)

Sincerely RESTREPOLL

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Barranquilla, Colombia Department of Atlántico August 14th, 2014

Ladies and Gentlemen Congressmen of the United States of America

My most fond thanks for your great efforts. I am very very happy to sit in this majestic

place that I occupy as a student of the Centro de Formacion para el Trabajo Gente

Estrategica.

My life took a gigantic turn because I am happy at the training center. I have learned

to divide my time as a student, mother, wife and employee and for all of this I will

continue making efforts with all of my strengths in order to not give up and to achieve

my goal which is the desire that I have to be better in the labor and personal fields.

Thank you for thinking about others and may your spirit of belonging last forever. May

God bless you and always be with you. Again many many thanks ladies and gentlemen

Members of the Congress of the United States of America.

I say farewell to you

Mabel Blanco De la Cruz

Beneficiary of the Program

Barranquilla Colombia

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Bogotá Capital District, August 14th, 2014

Gente Estrategica Centro de Formacion para el Trabajo

Ladies and Gentlemen Congressmen of the United States I am very thankful to

you because thanks to the Centro de Formacion I am getting training in order to

have a better quality of life and this is a very good opportunity for us the African-

descendant people because in this country there is a lot of discrimination and

you are providing me a very good opportunity.

Through this opportunity that you have given me a new stage in my life has

begun which is the stage of getting training and education as a person, as a

professional working which is what I am interested in, it is an open door at the

entrance to my dreams and life project.

Thank you

Sincerely: Roxana Carabali Vargas

[email protected]

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OurThoughts

15-08-2014

Between lines I write a page of thebook of my life

Ladies and Gentlemen Members of Congress may the Peace of God Almighty

be with you and all of your loved ones. For me it is a pleasure to turn to you and

in turn to be able to express to you the projects that I have; I am a mother of

two children and I am an Indian woman of the Zenú Reservation of which I feel

very proud. I entered the Corporación Gente Estratégica motivated to prepare

myself to be a professional bartender with which I want to achieve many goals

for example, to give a better future to my children because we have very low

financial resources. This goal that I proposed to myself to study, I am achieving

it, but with much effort. This has been useful for me in order to give me strength

and courage in order to continue with my studies. My efforts have been

compensated because I have achieved good grades. With this I want to continue

preparing myself in order to be a better person every day. I thank God and those

very few friends and relatives who have provided me their support. I turn to you

with the greatest respect and appreciation due to your great support because

your support has been fundamental in our lives in order to move forward with

affection and gratitude.

Orleisa Solano

Book of Experiences

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Barranquilla August 14th, 2014

Ladies and Gentlemen Congressmen of the United States

Hello my name is Eliana Isabel Berdugo Rivera, I am 26 years old. I graduated in the year

2004, my life project when I graduated was to study. Due to the fact that my parents did

not have financial resources I had not been able to study. I have a daughter who is 6 years

old, her name is Laura Rodriguez and she is my pride. I am a single mother and I live with

my parents. They are a great support for me.

I thank God for having put me on the path of the opportunity to study in this institution.

Gente Estrategica has changed my life and my future and my daughter’s future. In

order to make progress and be better I depend on this. I thank you very much for this

opportunity and with my efforts, my education and my endeavor I will be able to make

this project succeed, I consider myself to be a hard working woman capable of fulfilling

my goals and this is one of the most important goals of my life.

Sincerely

Eliana Berdugo Rivera

Citizen ID Card No. 1.129.510.051

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My name is Belkys and I am 34 years old. I live in

Puerto Colombia (Atlántico). First of all, I want

to give thanks to God because I am able to write

to you. I feel very happy and motivated due to

the opportunity that has been given to me. Not

many opportunities appear in life. Unfortunately

we seldom make use of the opportunities and

we only see them pass in front of our eyes.

Only when in reality we give value to things

that we have and we feel that we can lose

them sometimes then we realize that we must

wake up. This is my case. I have let so many

opportunities pass me in my life. I almost closed

my eyes and I stopped seeing a tomorrow. I woke

up and here I am. I am a mother, a daughter and

a wife.

Now I have the opportunity that is provided to

me by “Gente Estrategica-Centro de Formación”,

I see the future from a different point of view.

It is an open door for my growth as a person. I

have been given the opportunity to study, to

prepare myself and to work and to reach goals

that I had proposed to myself a long time ago.

When I arrived here I found instructors who

had a lot of experience and a desire to teach

and to create responsible people, people with

discipline to maintain themselves stable in the

work environment.

I am in the Marketing and Sales program. I

promote products, my vision is to prepare myself

the best way possible and to put into practice

all of the things that I have learned so that the

name of this institution may be more and more

recognized and so that many more persons can

see the doors opened for them; the doors that I

can already see opening for me.

“Thank you for your support”

See you soon

Belkys

“Ladies and GentlemenCongressmen of the United States”

From: Belkys M Gutierrez Paez

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THANKS TO USAID I HAVE RECEIVED EDUCATION AND

TRAINING AS A PERSON

SINCERELY: VANESA PRECIADO

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BUILDING A COUNTRY WITH INCLUSION AND DIVERSITY APPROACH76

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