San José de la Montaña

Background

For those who have the opportunity to reach Colombia’s remote San José de la Montaña municipality, it is immediately clear that this is one of the world’s most beautiful areas, with its jagged mountains, forests and streams. To access the many hamlets and villages of the municipality requires travel by Jeep or truck along difficult paths, but it is well worth the effort.

Those who live in the Colombian countryside – campesinos – such as San José de la Montaña suffer from disproportionately high levels of poverty, with as much as 65 to 70 percent of the rural population living under the official poverty line. The difficulties known to the people of this region has historically involved high levels of violence from the country’s internal conflict, in large part because of the area’s remoteness and limited government presence. The area has been experiencing more peaceful times now, with hopes for continued tranquility.

Project

Developing Minds Foundation supports a literacy project for 1000 campesino families living in San José de la Montaña municipality in the state of Antioquia. The sponsorship of this project, through our esteemed partner Secretos Para Contar, the operational organization, results in improving literacy rates in this area through a well-developed program coordinate with the local schools.

The series have been written using accessible, easy-to-understand language based on its intended audience and every two years the content of these books is renewed so as to preserve the interest of the readers.

Thanks to our collective “hands-on” approach, we are able to provide families in very remote areas with what they need most.