San Rafael

San Rafael | Santander | Colombia |

SEF’s goal in San Rafael, Colombia was to improve the educational environment for the nearly 300 students in the area. Meals and quality eyewear were provided for the students during our project. Lead by renowned Dr. Rafael Urea from Bucaramanga city, the medical brigade was brought to San Rafael to provide children struggling with eyesight an opportunity to see better so they can succeed academically. English scholarships were also granted to San Rafael’s four best students– a continuing scholarship programme that has been part of a joint SEF-IDEI English Institute since 2010.

Community Overview

San Rafael is small and forgotten rural village of Bucaramanga, Colombia. Hundreds of its families have been displaced by violence and live below the poverty line. Their children live in dilapidated houses made out with scrap materials and with little access to education. The San Rafael demonstrated particularly interesting behaviour when SEF arrived, suspicious of the foundation’s intentions but quickly warmed to the volunteers. San Rafael has been gradually restoring into a peaceful territory but still faces the abandonment of private and governmental entities in their process of moving on from a tragic past.