The Middle School section organizes a series of voluntary social service events throughout the academic year. These events are coordinated and planned by the 9 eighth-grade students who are part of the Leadership elective class, under the guidance of teacher Angélica María Arteaga.
Before each event, students have the opportunity to meet the Foundation or School with which the activity will be carried out, allowing them to experience realities different from their own and identify various ways to support socially meaningful causes.
The main goal of these events is to promote and cultivate empathy and a sense of community in our students through interaction with people of different ages and backgrounds.
So far, in the 2024-2025 school year, three events have taken place, each related to the commemoration of a special day, involving different populations from the city of Cali:
- September 28: In celebration of International Sign Language Day, with children from the Institute for Blind and Deaf Children and primary school students from the La Trinidad Educational Institution.
- October 19: In recognition of World Day Against Discrimination, with the youth from the Asodisvalle Foundation.
- December 14: Following the Thanksgiving celebration, with elderly individuals from the El Cottolengo Foundation.
During these activities, volunteer students shared life stories, exchanged anecdotes, played, painted, walked, and shared meals in a fraternal atmosphere.
- March 15: As part of International Zero Waste Day, the students held a cleaning and planting event, planting 20 trees that will help keep the ecosystem in the Pance River alive.
For the remainder of this school year, the Leadership team is planning one more activity for May 25th: taking advantage of World Football Day, they will invite children from the Pance Educational Institution to Colegio Bolívar to play and share.
- May 25: In celebration of World Football Day, children from the Pance Educational Institution will be invited to Colegio Bolívar for games and shared activities.
The voluntary social service program in Middle School aligns perfectly with the principles of Deep Learning, promoting not only mastery of knowledge about social realities but also essential skills such as collaboration, problem-solving, and social awareness. By actively participating in these activities, students develop a sense of empathy and responsibility toward their community, learning to apply values and skills in real-life contexts. Each encounter with diverse populations is an opportunity to reflect on the interconnectedness between cultural differences and shared humanity, fostering personal growth and commitment as global citizens.
Congratulations to the students leading these volunteer actions, to those who join and participate even if they are not in the elective class, and to their families who support and contribute to promoting and fulfilling this social purpose.
Testimonies
Students shared their experiences for this article, reflecting the significant impact these activities have had on both them and the community. Some of the most notable testimonies include:
| “The Leadership subject is a valuable experience because it allows us to put into practice Bolívar values and gain various learnings during the visits we make to foundations.” |
| “Voluntary social service has brought enriching experiences not only to us as students but also to the people we have shared with.” |
| “Patience has been developed because things don’t always go as planned, or the people we interact with have different abilities or ways of being from ours.” |
| “We’ve learned to be grateful because through these activities, you realize you have many opportunities and privileges, and some people are in different conditions.” |
| “We learn from the mistakes we made in the first activities and solve challenges that arise along the way. For example, the logistics challenge because each event requires organization: designing invitations, defining activities, gathering materials, and so on. For this, we divide into work teams to achieve the goal.” |
| “We usually do creative activities with children and elderly people that adapt to each person’s abilities and allow us to interact despite differences.” |
| “We seek to involve more classmates to join and support the activities. This way, younger students learn the value of helping others.” |
These testimonies highlight how volunteer initiatives not only serve a social purpose but also contribute to the integral development of students, reinforcing their ability to lead with empathy and commitment.
The eighth-grade students currently part of the Leadership elective class:
| Lucía Londoño Quintana |
| Laura Morales Dorronsoro |
| Lucía Peña Echeverri |
| Juana María Ríos Cabezas |
| María Antonia Torres Tabares |
| Juan José Caicedo Lozano |
| Juan Camilo Esguerra Zúñiga |
| Nicolás Pereira Martinez |
| Ilana Wartenberg Jaramillo. |