Given the lack of educational infrastructure in her Kaikashi community, in Manaure (La Guajira), Alexa Martínez11 years old, always receives classes from his teacher Katherine outdoors under the shade of a leafy tree. However, his emotion is latent. “Finally, there will be a school. We will no longer have to endure the winds“, says.
This is one of the latest solutions provided to the Wayú indigenous people by the public-private initiative Misión La Guajira, which has been led for a year by Grupo Aval and the Administrative Department of the Presidency of the Republic (Dapre), in alliance with Prisa Media, W Radio and Promigás. Germán Roldán, representative of the Ancla Foundation, says that the classrooms will benefit about 60 children in the community.
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The lives of the inhabitants of this community, where about 26 families live, have completely changed in just 12 months. Thanks to the project, the well they had was recovered and a water treatment plant was installed, which has allowed them to drink water and stop suffering from diseases.
Likewise, The Wayú indigenous people who live in this territory have energy thanks to the installed solar panels, They have community gardens to self-consume food and can even access Wi-Fi thanks to the alliance with Claro Colombia. The last ones with this internet solution are the residents of the Wayú community of Grasamana. “Drinking water gives them health, energy offers them the possibility of studying beyond when the sunlight goes out and with the antenna they can have access to the rest of the world. The important thing is that you contribute to the progress and sustainability of this project“said Luis Carlos Sarmiento Gutiérrez, president of the Board of Directors of Grupo Aval, during the inauguration.
In total, since La Guajira Mission arrived in the territory last December, helping 17,000 people from 75 communities of Manaure and Uribia with water access solutionsenergy or food security. “Without a doubt, the important thing has been working together. In 2025 we will continue in the department to achieve results and help the communities,” said the director of Dapre, Laura Sarabia.
The intervention in water to date includes 46 wells, the recovery of 27 existing ones, the drilling of two new ones and the installation of seven water treatment plants that work with photovoltaic energy. In energy, there are 60 solutions in strategic points such as bowers. According to María Camila Muñoz, manager of Misión La Guajira, the goal is to impact 25,000 people from 81 communities in Manaure and Uribia, whose poverty exceeds the national average.
With information from EL TIEMPO
