Katarina speaks out for a safer school
Unsafe classrooms and gender inequality threaten education for thousands of children in Chocó in the Pacific region of Colombia. Despite this, Katarina and Yili are determined to stay in school and pursue their ambitions.
Cracked walls and leaking roofs have pushed Katarina, 13, to speak out for a safer school. © Plan International / Chris de Bode
Education in Chocó is not just about getting to school – it’s about staying safe once you’re there. Katarina, 13, knows this all too well. “The cracks in the wall get bigger when it rains. One of the walls collapsed down the hill,” she says of her school building.
Rainwater leaks through the roof, and power outages leave classrooms in darkness. “If I were the head teacher, I would fix the roof. And build a waterproof room where we can take IT classes. Learning without internet just doesn’t make sense.”
Unsafe infrastructure is a daily threat, but Katarina refuses to give up. Her determination to advocate for safer schools is inspiring. “It is difficult to focus in a building like this,” she admits, yet she continues to push for change.
Gender inequality and lost opportunities
For Yili, 16, the challenge is gender inequality. “For the past few years, I worked in people’s homes to earn money for school supplies,” she says. Balancing domestic work, school, and caring for siblings eventually caused her to drop out. “I failed two subjects and was not allowed to go back to school.”
Yili’s story is common in Colombia, where girls often bear the burden of housework and caregiving. “I have more boys than girls in my class. Another challenge is girls getting pregnant. It happened to one of my best friends. She dropped out of school and couldn’t find a job.”
With support from Plan International’s Safe Horizons project, Yili returned to school. Financial assistance means she can focus on her studies while still helping at home. “If I had to do housework all my life, I would be so bored. That’s why I want to go to school. Physics and chemistry, and learning new things, that’s what I love.”
Safe Horizons creates a path forward
The Safe Horizons project, funded by the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), improves school safety and promotes gender equality. By repairing infrastructure, providing resources, and supporting girls like Katarina and Yili, the initiative ensures that education is not just a dream – but a reality.
Categories: Education
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