Category

Colombia

Category

Just about every time I walk through a market in Colombia, I discover a new fruit I’ve never seen before. Of course, there are more common fruits like bananas, apples, grapes, and pineapples, but those are just a few of the over 70 fruits that grow in the country. Some of them are completely unknown outside of Colombia. Discovering new exotic Colombian fruits is just one of the things that makes a visit to Colombia so worthwhile.

In Belén de Umbría, a tiny two-room school serves a marginalized community. Andrés Escobar Primary School has two teachers and 30 students from preschool to 5th grade. Many of the students have discipline issues or learning disabilities. Some come from broken families, have just one parent, or are raised by their grandparents. A few students have been displaced by violent conflict in Colombia while others have drug addicts or prostitutes in their families. All of the students come from very low-income families that struggle to afford school supplies, uniforms, and lunches.