Expanding CATCH Across Colombia!

Along the western slopes of Cordillera Central, the highest of the three branches of the Andes Mountains, resides Quindío. With a population of just over half a million, Quindío is the second smallest department of Colombia. In partnership with the Colombian Ministry of Education, CATCH Colombia trainers, Gina Muñoz and Adriana Jiménez, have been working alongside local training specialists Antonio Jiménez, Sebastián Ruíz and logistics coordinator/ chef Nicolás Duarte to administer a 3-day physical education and social emotional learning training session to serve 48 different schools in Quindío.

During the week of September 12, the CATCH Colombia team set off on their travels to Quindío. Each day of training was jam-packed with movement and laughter! Participants engaged in the highly interactive CATCH program with activities designed to boost the amount of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) within their class time, integrate social-emotional wellness techniques, and promote an overall healthy lifestyle for their students both in and out of the classroom.

By the end of the week, the CATCH Colombia team trained 120 teachers from 48 different schools – one school of which includes around 20 students from the Emberá community! Emberá is Colombia’s third largest population of indigenous people. With approximately five different dialects of the Emberá language, differentiated according to geographical location, being able to include these educators was very exciting for the CATCH Colombia team.

Returning from this training, each teacher has the opportunity to change the lives of their students for years to come by educating them on best practices that help them develop both physically and emotionally.  One teacher shares with us: “Through the organized physical activity lessons, these qualities can be obtained or promoted in students: equality, inclusion, self-control, dynamism, expectations, emotions, creativity, the joy of sharing, trust, self-esteem, and [healthy] life habits.¨

The training also received attention from media in Quindío and was recognized publicly by the Colombian Ministry of Education on Twitter.

CATCH is excited to continue to grow our partnership with the Colombian Ministry of Education and schools across the country this year! 

To learn more about CATCH’s international work, email us with questions anytime!