The Beginning: Suba

Bogotá | Cundinamarca | Colombia |

The primary goals of SEF’s first project were to help the children in the Suba community and to give the children something to make them smile. This first project was made possible by the initiative of founder Edwin Amaya whom with the help of a few donors, provided school supplies and backpacks to 175 children in the area. With the help of the Tia Loren Foundation, the children’s’ parents were given workshops by SEF-sponsored chef on how to make healthier meals for their children on small budget. A local psychologist was also brought in to work with the students’ parents. A police safety workshop, a magician show, and a clown show concluded the day’s festivities. With the success of this first project in Suba, Smile Education Foundation began its journey to becoming an international foundation!

Community Overview

This project was implemented in the Suba borough, a poorer district of Bogota, the capital of Colombia. In this area, not all children have parents or are supported by grandparents. The community was selected because the Tia Loren Foundation had a presence in the neighbourhood and demonstrated need. SEF, then known as SMILE Colombia Foundation, partnered with Tia Loren to provide as much to the students as possible.