Yuliana is on a mission to empower rural and remote students in Colombia to overcome barriers to higher education, by addressing poor academic preparation, limited social capital and personal vulnerabilities.

In rural Colombia, 95% of the 12 million population have not attended college, perpetuating cycles of poverty and inequality. The country faces high levels of inequality and low social mobility rates. To address this, ensuring quality education and opportunities for higher education for vulnerable populations is crucial.

Despite education being a constitutional right, significant disparities exist in access, permanence, and quality. Students from higher socioeconomic status consistently outperform their peers in international and national tests, contributing to a 34.5% lower average score in public schools compared to private ones.

Post-graduation these challenges persist, with only 22% of rural students enrolling in higher education within a year, compared to 51% from private urban schools. Limited access to higher education directly impacts adult poverty rates, as a Bachelor's degree correlates with a 48.7% increase in compensation in the first year of employment.

In 2021, Jerson and Judi, students from rural areas in Colombia, were personally known to the founders, who recognized their aspirations for college but uncertainty about where to begin. Acknowledging the challenges faced by them and many others due to impoverished backgrounds, Somos Bachilleres was launched. Today, Jerson is pursuing Biology, and Judi realised her dream of becoming a Police Officer.

Yuliana Co Founder ConEducación to empower rural students in Colombia to overcome these many barriers to higher education - seeking to address poor academic preparation, limited social capital, and multiple personal vulnerabilities.

Weekly online classes focus on strengthening basic skills and preparing students for national exams, increasing their chances of admission and access to scholarships. Their students receive essential guidance through bi-monthly workshops, specialist 1-2-1 mentoring, information resources as well as financial contribution towards college entry exams and application fees.

These critical interventions enable motivated students to compete for college seats in more equitable conditions and achieve their dreams of transforming their lives and their families' through higher education.

SHIFTERS 100

Shining a light on the young people and ideas changing our world.

Yuliana A. Palacio Ortiz

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Yuliana's story

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Watch Yuliana's Podcast Episode

Shining a light on the young people
and ideas changing our world.

Watch Yuliana's
Podcast Episode