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Grant money serves preschool children

Children at the Mis Primeros Pasos preschool and kindergarten in Sincelejo, Colombia, have friends everywhere—Kiwanis friends.

A group of 5-year-olds don Kiwanis shirts in one of the classrooms at the Mis Primeros Pasos school in Sincelejo, Colombia.

The Kiwanis Club of Sincelejo developed the school where a majority of families’ incomes fall below the poverty level, and some children never go to school. At Mis Primeros Pasos, 140 children play, learn, laugh, and get medical treatment.

Supported by Kiwanians worldwide, the Kiwanis International Foundation awarded the club a grant to purchase new equipment and materials for the school.

“The Kiwanis Club of Sincelejo is aware of the need to provide solutions for social, economic, and cultural problems of this city,” says club president Alfredo Yemail Julio.

The Mis Primeros Pasos school is designed for children ages 2-6, and is operated almost entirely by Kiwanians. The club contributes learning materials, cash to cover utilities, the preschool’s building, and labor contributed by the club’s  education committee members. In addition, Kiwanis-family members take part in the normal day-to-day operations.

Sincelejo Kiwanians already are looking toward the future and expanded facilities for the children of Mis Primeros Pasos.

“The plan for this project is to organize an elementary school,” Alfredo says.