Colombia is a beautiful country but it’s also known for supplying cocaine to the world, something the Colombian government is keen to rectify. One of the best ways to do this is to create opportunities to draw people away from illegal activities and education is the best route to this.

With more than 13 thousand students the Medellín based Colombian Polytechnic Jaime Isaza Cadavid is a university institution attached to the State Government of Antioquia and founded in 1964. It offers higher education at the technical and professional levels for undergraduates and postgraduates in areas of engineering, administration, agricultural sciences, audiovisual communication, sports and recreation. Its academic offer also includes non-formal education courses.

The objectives of the institution are to extend higher education opportunities to different areas of Medellín, the State of Antioquia and the Country, promoting the inclusion of urban and rural population excluded from economic and social development, without compromising the quality of the education provided. To use the education as a vehicle for improving the quality of life of all the members of the community, while keeping at bay the risk of having thousands of young people being recruited to take part in unlawful activities. To develop the ethical, political, and social dimensions of education; and not only the cognitive development of the human being, prioritising the most vulnerable, violently or socially marginalized women.

The Polytechnic seeks to promote educational processes that teach from and for non-violence and that build citizenship opportunities. Additionally, it seeks to create an observatory for peace and conflict, since the majority of the student population is from very vulnerable social strata, where the educational process is essential to avoid returning to violence and conflict.

91% of the student population is from lowest parts of the social spectrum and with a high level of exposure to gangs outside the law, having war and illegality as a last resort to survive and meet the basic requirements for their families. COVID has presented the Polytechnic with a new challenge to meet its goals. Low-income population lack the resources to be part of the new “stay at home” and digital reality. They don’t have connectivity at all or at least one they can afford and access to devices is also an issue. This is a call to help the youth in Medellín stay away from crime, and to help the Polytechnic in providing that youth a way to be part of the society and and contribute to their development and the development of others. The alternatives have far reaching consequences which could well end up on our doorsteps.