This space is designed for 200 children from elementary school to have proper spaces for learning.

To increase educational coverage in rural areas of Colombia, the Foundation built a school farm in La Guajira that will impact 200 students of the Wayúu community.

This construction is part of the other six buildings the Foundation is carrying out in La Guajira as part of the Todos al Cole (All in School) project, seeking to impact 54,000 children through school access and permanence.

Also, Kanewuakat belongs to the Caracas Ruleya ethno-school in Manaure and was adapted with proper spaces for education, such as classrooms, a dining room, a kitchen, and toilets.

A design inspired by the ancestral origins of La Guajira

Additionally, Kanewuakat is inspired by Guajira’s ancestral origins and integrates the local culture. So it joins the cultural background and aboriginal roots with the current pedagogical process.

Moreover, with local materials to reduce carbon footprints, Kanewuakat, also has an organic design easily replicated in communities with similar characteristics.

Also, because of such high temperatures and direct radiation in La Guajira we built spaces that replicate the actual feeling of studying under a tree. This maintains a relationship with the landscape while providing comfort to contribute to focus on class.

So, in the middle of the desert and around the campus will grow forest for students and the community to enjoy, while the cafeteria will also serve as a shared space for hosting different activities.

According to the architecture firm, David Delgado, DDA, it is “a green oasis that grows over time and integrates cultural memory with future yearnings of possible changes to people’s lives”.

The school farm, a meeting place

Patricia Sierra, executive director of the Foundation, explains Kanewuakat is part of the 27 adaptations carried out in the department.

“We build educational spaces that are conducive to learning and are timely to reduce the existing educational infrastructure deficit in Colombia.” The Foundation is developing more projects in La Guajira and other territories of the country.

“Learning environments are vital for children to learn; that is why we are aiming to build 6 more projects in La Guajira. Kanewuakat is the first suitable site in the territory”, says the director.

For the Foundation, buildings are learning spaces to protect children and to dynamize social and community relations. So, schools should not only impact school life but also become Community Development Centers to improve communities.

The Pies Descalzos Foundation has a commitment to rural and dispersed rural areas

Four years ago, the Foundation started working in rural areas to support closing the educational gap with urban areas, reaching challenging territories such as La Guajira, Caquetá, and Catatumbo.

“We work for the welfare of children and youth in Colombia. La Guajira needed to strengthen both pedagogical processes and educational infrastructure,” Patricia explains.

Alongside Educate A Child and the Governor’s Office of La Guajira, Kanewuakat was built in record time: 5 months. “We are happy to open the doors of Kanewuakat for children to enjoy their school”.

Finally, adapting Kanewuakat was possible thanks to the Pies Descalzos Foundation, Educate A Child, a program of the Qatar Foundation Education Above All, with the support of the Governor’s Office of La Guajira, and the architecture firm David Delgado.