This Twitter hashtag has recently mobilized thousands to rise up via an online campaign against the kidnappings of innocent civilians by the FARC rebels in Colombia. Being referred to as a  “twitertón,” or a telethon on Twitter, organizers of this movement have called upon the masses of Colombia and are hoping to get a million people to Tweet messages speaking out against the FARC and demanding the release of those victims who are kidnapped. Beyond their release, it is ultimately their freedom that is being demanded.

Though we may not have the resources to single-handedly combat the FARC army, it’s important to realize that we do have the power to some extent provide “libertad,” or freedom, to those trapped in the vicious cycle of Colombia’s social injustices. We empower through education.

Education is a powerful tool. The programs we have are specifically tailored to educate our children in a way that is empowering yet fun and opportunity-driven yet realistic. With New Horizons, we give our children a safe haven for learning conducive to growth, self-discovery and, most important of all, hope. With I Am CBOB, we provide the funds necessary for our scholars to attend college and pursue their greatest aspirations.

In a more direct way than one might think, education frees our children. It releases them from mental barriers. It releases them from people who say “no.” It releases them from any fears or animosities that might exist in their community.

Education releases them into a society where dreams are meant to become a reality. It releases them into a community of support and harmony. It releases them into a world of hope and a world of love.

Let us work together in these crucial months to free our children… to release our children beyond borders. #Liberenlos… #Libertad.

In becoming an E-mentor, you act as a role model and guide for a student whose interests parallel your own. Over the course of a year (or more), you work with this student through our own online social network to provide opportunities for career exploration, character development and self-esteem building. You guide the student through the New Horizons coursework, helping him or her to complete an individualized project specific to that student’s aspirations. Most important of all, the relationship you develop with this student is one of mutual support, hope and love.

When the E-mentoring program was first launched as part of New Horizons in the fall of 2010, mentor Luis Garcia and his mentee Jose Martinez shared a bond almost immediately as they both had interest in engineering. “They talked constantly on Skype,” Priya Rudradas, our program manager, said, “and there was always a lot of back and forth collaboration” which is why the program worked so well for them. Now, nearly a year later, Jose is the first in his family to go to college and, with the guidance of Luis, is studying to be an electrical engineer. Even though they are miles apart, Luis and Jose still communicate today and still remain very close.

If you are passionate about helping children, specifically as a mentor and friend, become a part of the E-mentoring program… become a part of the CBOB family. So long as you can commit an hour a week to your mentee, you can make a difference in the life of a youth right from your very own computer. Learn more and add yourself to the equation today.

Updating you from our home at the Santa Fe CIED

Photo courtesy of visitgainesville.com

We here at CBOB always like to keep you in the know. You’re part of our family, and it’s important to us that you know what’s happening within the organization. Here are a few things we’ve been working on these past couple months.

The Development team has most recently been working hard to organize our Pledge to Make a Difference volunteer program. It’s a great opportunity for someone interested in supporting our cause to get involved locally while making an impact internationally. Essentially, you sign up to volunteer at a local tutoring agency on behalf of CBOB, and the funds you raise from tutoring go directly to our children in Colombia. More information on how you can get involved with this program will be up on our website very soon.

Finally, with the fall school semester gradually approaching, Priya Rudradas, our program manager, has been preparing for the launch of Phase 2 of New Horizons. We reviewed both the teacher’s and students’ feedback and were overjoyed to receive such positive responses. Just last week, we were even fortunate enough to Skype with Davian Ortiz and Yhirdy Tatiana Estrada, two of our New Horizons students, and Jose Martinez, an I Am CBOB scholar. They had such wonderful, inspiring things to say, and it reinforced why we do what we do here at CBOB: it’s for the children.

We have many more projects in the works, but these are a few of the big ones. Check out our website over the next few weeks as we will be sharing with you many great opportunities to become an ambassador for CBOB and, thus, an ambassador for the children.

The session started out with a simple question: “Who are we?” In terms of the organization, we were all so quick to say, “CBOB is a non-profit organization that was founded in 2003 that helps children…” As we continued with this generic description, it soon dawned on us that we were not only limiting ourselves but limiting what it means to be a part of this organization. Our Executive Director Angelica Suarez told us to rethink the question: who are we beyond just a noun or a year or mission statement?

Right away, our brainstorming whiteboard became flooded with the colors of endless ideas. “We are passionate; we are humble; we are empowering; we are creative; we are believers.” These were just a few of the many descriptive words we came up with over the course of the next 30 minutes. By the end of the meeting, there was no more room left on the board, even though we were still coming up with more ideas.

Later on that day, our brainstorming got me to consider all the qualities that define me as more than just a human being. Through our own daily interactions, we present ourselves to others, evoking some emotional and sensory response from them, just as a brand is meant to do. These responses are only heightened as we strengthen our best qualities. In identifying our strongest attributes, through self-evaluation and introspection, we come to realize that we are much more than just students or workers or an age.

The next time someone asks you who you are, take a second to reflect on what really makes you the person you are today. My name is Amber Forrest, and I am not just an intern. I am caring, kind, eager, devoted and inspired. In my time with CBOB so far, I have learned to go beyond borders, and I hope to one day take you beyond borders too.