The University of Sinú and INEM strengthen their social commitment to education through the macro-project “Educating to transform environments”
In the Saray Castilla de Bechara auditorium, a meeting was held between the University of Sinú Elías Bechara Zainúm and the José Manuel Rodríguez Torices Educational Institution (INEM), within the framework of the macro-project “Educating to transform environments 2024-2027”, an initiative that in its first year of implementation directly impacted more than 2,777 students and that projects to become a sustainable model of educational intervention in the city and the country.
The project includes four components: health and well-being, strengthening of basic skills, strengthening of generic skills, and infrastructure and risk management.
Among the most notable results are:
Delivery of 400 dental kits.
More than 1,000 students They participated in fun and educational activities to promote healthy eating, including puppet shows, "Rainbow of Colors" activities, observation races, and workshops on sugar consumption.
More than 648 students evaluated in optometry.
450 students They participated in training modules on coexistence and peaceful conflict resolution, citizenship and democracy, and financial education (savings, credit and investment) through the Law and Accounting programs.
263 students attended in psychological workshops for the prevention of psychoactive substance use.
Diagnostic infrastructure studies of a high technical level aligned with Colombian regulations, which served as a key input for the prioritization of intervention projects by the Mayor's Office of Cartagena and its Infrastructure Secretariat.
During the event, the rector of INEM, Arides Sandoval, presented the University of Sinú with a plaque of recognition, highlighting: “This cooperation makes visible the joint work between the public and private sectors.”
Claudia Navarro Díaz, Director of Social Projection at the University of Sinú, stated: “INEM opened its doors to us and together with the rector we made this project a reality.”
For his part, the project coordinator, Juan José Jiménez, emphasized: “Many times the EPS (Health Promoting Entities) do not provide sustainable care for students, or parents sometimes do not have the habit of monitoring their children's health, and that ends up affecting their academic performance.”
The District Education Secretariat was present in the space, which strengthens the impact and institutional coordination.
Looking ahead, the project aims to reach 4,000 students and over 100 parents next year, as well as promote agro-industrial strengthening projects and provide glasses to prioritized students in partnership with an international organization.
In this way, the macro-project “Educating to transform environments”, as part of the social projection actions of the University of Sinú, continues to consolidate itself as a comprehensive strategy that combines health, education and infrastructure management, aimed at improving academic performance and positively transforming school environments in Cartagena.
