{"id":2438,"date":"2026-08-19T20:12:08","date_gmt":"2026-08-20T01:12:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/unab.edu.co\/cienciaabierta\/?p=2438"},"modified":"2026-08-19T20:12:08","modified_gmt":"2026-08-20T01:12:08","slug":"university-led-leadership-program-empowers-children-to-inspire-their-communities-schools-and-families","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/unab.edu.co\/cienciaabierta\/university-led-leadership-program-empowers-children-to-inspire-their-communities-schools-and-families\/","title":{"rendered":"University-Led Leadership Program Empowers Children to Inspire Their Communities, Schools, and Families"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[et_pb_section fb_built=\u00bb1&#8243; custom_padding_last_edited=\u00bbon|desktop\u00bb _builder_version=\u00bb4.27.7&#8243; _module_preset=\u00bbdefault\u00bb background_color=\u00bb#D6D6D6&#8243; background_image=\u00bbhttps:\/\/unab.edu.co\/cienciaabierta\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Proyecto-San-Francisco-de-Asis-3.jpg\u00bb parallax=\u00bbon\u00bb background_blend=\u00bbmultiply\u00bb width=\u00bb100%\u00bb max_width=\u00bb100%\u00bb min_height=\u00bb550px\u00bb min_height_tablet=\u00bb510px\u00bb min_height_phone=\u00bb400px\u00bb min_height_last_edited=\u00bbon|phone\u00bb height=\u00bb1000px\u00bb max_height=\u00bb510px\u00bb custom_margin=\u00bb||||false|false\u00bb custom_margin_tablet=\u00bb||||false|false\u00bb custom_margin_phone=\u00bb||||false|false\u00bb custom_margin_last_edited=\u00bbon|desktop\u00bb custom_padding=\u00bb54px|0px|||false|false\u00bb custom_padding_tablet=\u00bb54px|0px|||false|false\u00bb custom_padding_phone=\u00bb54px|0px|||false|false\u00bb background_last_edited=\u00bbon|phone\u00bb box_shadow_style=\u00bbpreset2&#8243; 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header_text_shadow_style=\u00bbpreset3&#8243; header_text_shadow_color=\u00bbrgba(0,0,0,0.8)\u00bb border_color_bottom=\u00bb#CE4F18&#8243; locked=\u00bboff\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb header_font_size__hover_enabled=\u00bboff|desktop\u00bb header_font_size__hover=\u00bb50px\u00bb width__hover_enabled=\u00bbon|desktop\u00bb max_width__hover_enabled=\u00bbon|hover\u00bb max_width__hover=\u00bb100%\u00bb]@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90aXRsZSIsInNldHRpbmdzIjp7ImJlZm9yZSI6IiIsImFmdGVyIjoiIn19@[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=\u00bb1&#8243; _builder_version=\u00bb4.16&#8243; _module_preset=\u00bbdefault\u00bb locked=\u00bboff\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb][et_pb_row _builder_version=\u00bb4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=\u00bbdefault\u00bb width=\u00bb100%\u00bb max_width=\u00bb95%\u00bb custom_margin=\u00bb||||false|false\u00bb custom_padding=\u00bb0em||0em||true|false\u00bb locked=\u00bboff\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb][et_pb_column type=\u00bb4_4&#8243; _builder_version=\u00bb4.27.2&#8243; _module_preset=\u00bbdefault\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb][et_pb_button button_url=\u00bb@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9saW5rX3VybF9wYWdlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsicG9zdF9pZCI6IjIzMzAifX0=@\u00bb button_text=\u00bbBack to Issue 11&#8243; button_alignment=\u00bbleft\u00bb _builder_version=\u00bb4.27.7&#8243; _dynamic_attributes=\u00bbbutton_url\u00bb _module_preset=\u00bbdefault\u00bb custom_button=\u00bbon\u00bb button_text_color=\u00bb#CE4F18&#8243; button_bg_color=\u00bbRGBA(255,255,255,0)\u00bb button_border_color=\u00bbRGBA(255,255,255,0)\u00bb button_font=\u00bbPoppins|700|||||||\u00bb button_icon=\u00bb&#x38;||divi||400&#8243; button_icon_placement=\u00bbleft\u00bb button_on_hover=\u00bboff\u00bb locked=\u00bboff\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=\u00bb1_3,2_3&#8243; use_custom_gutter=\u00bbon\u00bb gutter_width=\u00bb2&#8243; _builder_version=\u00bb4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=\u00bbdefault\u00bb background_color=\u00bb#f8f8f8&#8243; width=\u00bb100%\u00bb max_width=\u00bb100%\u00bb custom_margin=\u00bb||||false|true\u00bb custom_padding=\u00bb1%|10%|1%|10%|true|true\u00bb locked=\u00bboff\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb][et_pb_column type=\u00bb1_3&#8243; _builder_version=\u00bb4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=\u00bbdefault\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb][et_pb_blurb title=\u00bbBy Alejandra Gualdr\u00f3n Acevedo\u00bb image=\u00bbhttps:\/\/unab.edu.co\/cienciaabierta\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/alejandra-gualdron.jpg\u00bb icon_placement=\u00bbleft\u00bb image_icon_width=\u00bb90px\u00bb module_class=\u00bbblurb-img-90&#8243; _builder_version=\u00bb4.27.7&#8243; _module_preset=\u00bbdefault\u00bb header_font=\u00bb|600|||||||\u00bb header_font_size=\u00bb14px\u00bb header_line_height=\u00bb1.2em\u00bb body_font_size=\u00bb13px\u00bb body_line_height=\u00bb1.3em\u00bb body_link_text_color=\u00bb#E09900&#8243; background_color=\u00bb#FFFFFF\u00bb custom_padding=\u00bb1em|0.9em|1em|0.9em|true|true\u00bb hover_enabled=\u00bb0&#8243; custom_css_free_form=\u00bb\/* Forzar contenedor cuadrado *\/||.blurb-img-90 .et_pb_main_blurb_image span {||  width: 90px;||  height: 90px;||  display: block;||}||||\/* Imagen circular real *\/||.blurb-img-90 .et_pb_main_blurb_image img {||  width: 90px;||  height: 90px;||  border-radius: 50% !important;||  object-fit: cover;||  display: block;||}||\u00bb border_radii=\u00bbon|5px|5px|5px|5px\u00bb border_width_all=\u00bb1px\u00bb border_color_all=\u00bb#FFFFFF\u00bb locked=\u00bboff\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb sticky_enabled=\u00bb0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<p>Social Communications professional and specialist in Digital Communication and Interactive Media from the Universidad Aut\u00f3noma de Bucaramanga.<\/p>\n<p bis_size=\"{&quot;x&quot;:10,&quot;y&quot;:130,&quot;w&quot;:309,&quot;h&quot;:24,&quot;abs_x&quot;:300,&quot;abs_y&quot;:763}\"><strong><a href=\"mailto:publicaciones@unab.edu.co\"><span bis_size=\"{&quot;x&quot;:10,&quot;y&quot;:132,&quot;w&quot;:197,&quot;h&quot;:17,&quot;abs_x&quot;:300,&quot;abs_y&quot;:765}\">publicaciones@unab.edu.co<\/span><\/a><\/strong><span bis_size=\"{&quot;x&quot;:10,&quot;y&quot;:132,&quot;w&quot;:197,&quot;h&quot;:17,&quot;abs_x&quot;:300,&quot;abs_y&quot;:765}\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_blurb][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=\u00bb2_3&#8243; _builder_version=\u00bb4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=\u00bbdefault\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb][et_pb_text _builder_version=\u00bb4.27.7&#8243; _module_preset=\u00bbdefault\u00bb text_font=\u00bbPoppins|300|||||||\u00bb text_text_color=\u00bb#000000&#8243; link_font=\u00bb||||on||||\u00bb link_text_color=\u00bb#CE4F18&#8243; ul_text_color=\u00bb#E09900&#8243; ul_line_height=\u00bb1.5em\u00bb header_text_color=\u00bb#CE4F18&#8243; header_font_size=\u00bb28px\u00bb header_3_font=\u00bb|700|||||||\u00bb header_3_text_color=\u00bb#000000&#8243; header_3_font_size=\u00bb17px\u00bb custom_margin=\u00bb0.5em||1px||false|false\u00bb custom_padding=\u00bb||1em||false|false\u00bb hover_enabled=\u00bb0&#8243; locked=\u00bboff\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb sticky_enabled=\u00bb0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\">Associated project<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DZJCEMUP93w\/?hl=es-la\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/apolo.unab.edu.co\/en\/projects\/el-derecho-a-la-memoria-y-la-reparaci%25C3%25B3n-a-partir-de-un-enfoque-di\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1766073413448000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2CcuxNJ9PyUH193AFVtjaT\" rel=\"noopener\">Agents of Change<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul><\/ul>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\u00bb4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=\u00bbdefault\u00bb max_width=\u00bb80%\u00bb custom_margin=\u00bb||||false|false\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb][et_pb_column type=\u00bb4_4&#8243; _builder_version=\u00bb4.16&#8243; _module_preset=\u00bbdefault\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb][et_pb_text _builder_version=\u00bb4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=\u00bbdefault\u00bb text_font=\u00bbAlmarai|800|||||||\u00bb text_text_color=\u00bb#D1522A\u00bb text_font_size=\u00bb25px\u00bb header_text_color=\u00bb#D1522A\u00bb header_3_font=\u00bbPoppins||||||||\u00bb header_3_text_align=\u00bbcenter\u00bb header_3_text_color=\u00bb#000000&#8243; header_3_font_size=\u00bb21px\u00bb header_3_line_height=\u00bb1.2em\u00bb custom_margin=\u00bb0em||||false|false\u00bb custom_padding=\u00bb0.5em||||false|false\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb]<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\">In 2023, UNAB launched Liderando y Transformando-Me, an educational initiative designed to empower 1,000 children across Santander to become the future leaders of their communities.<\/h3>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=\u00bb2_3,1_3&#8243; use_custom_gutter=\u00bbon\u00bb gutter_width=\u00bb2&#8243; _builder_version=\u00bb4.27.7&#8243; _module_preset=\u00bbdefault\u00bb max_width=\u00bb80%\u00bb custom_margin=\u00bb-23px|auto||auto|false|false\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb][et_pb_column type=\u00bb2_3&#8243; _builder_version=\u00bb4.17.3&#8243; _module_preset=\u00bbdefault\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb][et_pb_text _builder_version=\u00bb4.27.7&#8243; _module_preset=\u00bbdefault\u00bb text_font=\u00bbPoppins|300|||||||\u00bb text_text_color=\u00bb#000000&#8243; text_font_size=\u00bb17px\u00bb header_text_color=\u00bb#CE4F18&#8243; header_font_size=\u00bb28px\u00bb header_3_text_color=\u00bb#CE4F18&#8243; header_3_font_size=\u00bb1.9vw\u00bb header_3_line_height=\u00bb1.4em\u00bb text_orientation=\u00bbjustified\u00bb custom_margin=\u00bb0.5em||||false|false\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb]<\/p>\n<p>When we think of leaders, we often picture historically significant political figures, heads of traditional institutions such as the Pope, or business executives who lead the world\u2019s most successful companies. These are men and women recognized as role models who earned that distinction after years of experience and achievement.<\/p>\n<p>Many of them likely never imagined they would one day assume such influential roles. Their leadership abilities were developed through experience and strengthened over time. But what if the qualities that make an effective leader could be cultivated from childhood? Could we imagine young people becoming community leaders before reaching adulthood? More importantly, can leadership be taught, or is it an innate quality that emerges naturally with time?<\/p>\n<p>Today, 400 children from rural communities across Santander have earned a certificate from UNAB University, demonstrating that leadership can indeed be taught from an early age. They learned to become leaders\u2014and they did not have to wait until adulthood to put those skills into practice.<\/p>\n<p>That is the premise behind Liderando y Transformando-Me, a program created by UNAB\u2019s Social Transformation Department in 2023 to foster leadership skills from an early age. Its goal is to help shape future citizens with critical thinking skills, a strong ethical foundation, and a commitment to improving their communities.<\/p>\n<p>The program combines participatory learning with guided reflection on social, cultural, and environmental issues connected to the realities of the communities where participants live. Its objective is not only to strengthen academic abilities, but also to develop interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMost leadership programs are designed for adults. We wanted to plant those seeds much earlier because we believe these children are the next generation of leaders in the communities where they grow up. That\u2019s why we work on topics such as citizens\u2019 rights and responsibilities and help them identify challenges in their own communities, supporting them by partnering with other organizations,\u201d says Doris Amparo Barreto Osma, director of Social Transformation at UNAB.<\/p>\n<p>Since its creation, the program has reached public schools in rural areas of Tona, Cepit\u00e1, Gir\u00f3n, Floridablanca, Comuna 14 in Bucaramanga (Santander), and the Catatumbo region of Norte de Santander.<\/p>\n<p>In 2026, as it works toward its goal of reaching 1,000 participants, the program has focused on training neurodivergent children and students attending public schools in urban Bucaramanga.<\/p>\n<h3>A Joint Commitment to Inclusion<\/h3>\n<p>Diana Fabiola Villamizar Aceros is the mother of a teenager diagnosed with autism and Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a condition that causes progressive muscle degeneration and prevents him from walking. For the past five years, she has been a member of the La Mantita Gris Foundation, an organization that supports families living with conditions like her son\u2019s.<\/p>\n<p>In early 2026, Diana\u2019s son, together with 24 other children and young people from the foundation\u2014many of whom had not been attending school\u2014began participating in the new cohort of Liderando y Transformando-Me at UNAB.<\/p>\n<p>Although the program\u2019s objective remains the same, this cohort was designed with an additional focus on empowering participants through more hands-on than theoretical learning, promoting an inclusive culture, and actively involving parents and caregivers throughout the process.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen children have cognitive or physical disabilities, parents often underestimate what they are capable of and don\u2019t know how far they can go,\u201d says Diana Villamizar. \u201cAt UNAB, the children feel included, respected, and motivated. It\u2019s also a learning experience for us as mothers, helping us navigate the challenges of raising a child with a disability. It\u2019s an encouraging space where we feel included and know that our voices matter.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=\u00bbhttps:\/\/unab.edu.co\/cienciaabierta\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/La-Mantita-Gris_MAR_49.jpg\u00bb title_text=\u00bbLa-Mantita-Gris_MAR_49&#8243; align=\u00bbcenter\u00bb _builder_version=\u00bb4.27.7&#8243; _module_preset=\u00bbdefault\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=\u00bb4.27.7&#8243; _module_preset=\u00bbdefault\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb]<\/p>\n<p>La Mantita Gris began supporting children with autism, ADHD, Down syndrome, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and other conditions in 2021. Photo: Alejandra Gualdr\u00f3n Acevedo<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=\u00bb1_3&#8243; _builder_version=\u00bb4.27.7&#8243; _module_preset=\u00bbdefault\u00bb background_color=\u00bb#fffbf2&#8243; custom_padding=\u00bb1em|1em|1em|1em|true|true\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb][et_pb_text _builder_version=\u00bb4.27.7&#8243; _module_preset=\u00bbdefault\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb]<\/p>\n<h4>Transforming Public Schools<\/h4>\n<p>Instituci\u00f3n Educativa San Francisco de As\u00eds is a public school that has served its community for more than 60 years. Located in Bucaramanga\u2019s Santander neighborhood, it borders other low-income areas, including the 12 de Octubre settlement, where a fire destroyed more than 50 homes in December 2025.<\/p>\n<p>Many children affected by that fire attend the school, and some will participate in the second 2026 cohort of Liderando y Transformando-Me. Every two weeks, UNAB volunteers visit fourth- and fifth-grade students to lead leadership workshops.<\/p>\n<p>The program takes a holistic approach, emphasizing the development of soft skills focused on personal growth while encouraging students to build a stronger connection with their communities. As the culmination of their training, participants identify a challenge affecting their community and present a solution based on what they have learned.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFor a university specializing in higher education to create a program that provides complementary learning opportunities for schoolchildren is an extraordinary opportunity. Schools often lack the resources to bring in professionals from different fields. This partnership allows us to offer learning experiences that would otherwise not be possible because of financial and infrastructure constraints,\u201d says Gerardo Andr\u00e9s Barbosa Mendoza, the school\u2019s principal.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Social Communications professional and specialist in Digital Communication and Interactive Media from the Universidad Aut\u00f3noma de Bucaramanga. publicaciones@unab.edu.coAssociated project Agents of Change In 2023, UNAB launched Liderando y Transformando-Me, an educational initiative designed to empower 1,000 children across Santander to become the future leaders of their communities.When we think of leaders, we often picture historically [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"2880","footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2438","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-issue-11"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/unab.edu.co\/cienciaabierta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2438","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/unab.edu.co\/cienciaabierta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/unab.edu.co\/cienciaabierta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unab.edu.co\/cienciaabierta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unab.edu.co\/cienciaabierta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2438"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/unab.edu.co\/cienciaabierta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2438\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2444,"href":"https:\/\/unab.edu.co\/cienciaabierta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2438\/revisions\/2444"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/unab.edu.co\/cienciaabierta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2438"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unab.edu.co\/cienciaabierta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2438"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unab.edu.co\/cienciaabierta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2438"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}