| San Jose de la Montaña |
|
People living in San Jose de la Montaña, a municipality in the Colombian state of Antioquia, are like many others living in a armed conflict zone: the population tends to have a lower level of education and consequently are at a greater personal and developmental risk in many different ways. Lower levels of education generally translate into fewer economic alternatives, particularly in a debilitated economy, making it more difficult to manage every day life. With fewer options for work, these conditions strengthen the lure for many of the young to be recruited by armed groups. And if the conflict encroaches on their region and forces them out of their homes in the countryside as refugees, the difficult transition to an urban lifestyle and economy for someone with very limited education is greatly exacerbated. Unfortunately, for San Jose de la Montaña this is not theoretical, but a reality. Project Developing Minds Foundation is supporting a project that promotes literacy for 500 Campesino families living in the rural San Jose de la Montaña municipality within the state of Antioquia. Each of the families will be eligible to receive books and participate in accompanying educational programs that promote improved reading and comprehension skills, as well as a pure love of learning. Our implementing partner in region is the highly respected Secretos Para Contar, based in Medellin. To learn more about the organization, you may go to www.secretosparacontar.org. |
Campesinos living in the Colombian countryside suffer from disproportionately high levels of poverty, with as much as 65 to 70 percent of the rural population living under the poverty line. In many instances, the complications of living in these areas are further exacerbated by the armed conflict that is most prevalent in Colombia’s rural areas. One contributing factor to the lingering poverty is a very high illiteracy rate. In fact, rates of illiteracy in rural areas reach 30% (compared to 11% in urban areas).