My name is Belkis and I belong to the Wayuu Indigenous people, who inhabit territories in Colombia and Venezuela. I was born in the municipality of Mara, in the state of Zulia, Venezuela. I am 52 years old and currently live in Riohacha, La Guajira, Colombia.
My connection with FUNDAEC began in March 1992, after completing a period of community service. I traveled to Riohacha to participate in an Indigenous gathering, where I met Mr. Habib Rezvani, a highly respected educator in the region and, at that time, director of Fundación Jayuir, an organization that for more than 30 years has promoted education and development for the Wayuu people. He spoke to me about the possibility of studying for a degree in Rural Education with FUNDAEC.
When I returned to my community, some friends encouraged me to make a decision, as a new group of students would begin in June. It was not easy to decide to go so far away from my parents, siblings, and loved ones.
In the end, I made the decision and traveled to Northern Cauca to pursue the degree in Rural Education for four years, as part of the third graduating cohort. The program followed an alternating model. One month of in person classes took place at the Centro Universitario de Bienestar Rural in Perico Negro, followed by one month of field practice, during which I returned to La Guajira to support the activities implemented by Fundación Jayuir in different communities.
Having the privilege of completing this degree completely transformed my life, my expectations, and my sense of purpose. If I had studied another program or attended a different university, I cannot imagine being as happy or as fulfilled in what I do today. This is something I deeply enjoy thanks to God and to all the people who contributed to my intellectual and personal formation. I cannot conceive of my life without divine help and without the support of those who guided and encouraged me, especially my parents, to study at FUNDAEC. I am a witness to the difficulties many relatives and friends face today, and for that reason I make every effort to support young people, children, or anyone I can, as an expression of gratitude for all the blessings I have received.
I graduated with a degree in Rural Education through FUNDAEC and later pursued training in Educational Planning at Universidad Javeriana. Subsequently, I completed a master’s degree in Educational Management at Universidad Rafael Belloso Chacín in Venezuela. This achievement was especially meaningful, as I was recognized at the institution where I work for the effort and dedication required to independently finance these studies. This is something few teachers under our employment statute have had the opportunity to do.
Currently, I work as a teacher at the Institución Centro de Integración Popular IPC in Riohacha. My career in education began in 1998, when I was appointed núcleo director in the Indigenous zone of the municipality of Riohacha. I held this role for five years within the Secretaría de Educación while also collaborating with Fundación Jayuir. From 2003 to 2009, I worked as a rural director at the Centro Educativo del Caribe, and from 2010 to the present I have served as a classroom teacher. In addition, for two years I worked as an adjunct lecturer in the Faculty of Education at Universidad de La Guajira in complementary sessions. I am also currently linked as director of Fundación Jayuir, a commitment I assume with a deep sense of responsibility.
My dream is, with God’s help and the support of my daughters, who have also chosen to become educators, to found an institute that offers holistic education to Wayuu children, incorporating the learning of English without them losing their identity or their mother tongue. My purpose is to continue collaborating with Fundación Jayuir even after my retirement, in order to keep contributing to the well being of my community.
