More than 27,000 young adults signed up for the first call of the #RetoALaU (Spanish for #RoadToUni) educational program created to benefit high school graduates who neither study nor work in Bogotá. This initiative was inaugurated by Mayor Claudia López as a pivotal project of the new system of care that is being established in the city.
With this program, the Mayor´s Office aims to generate new opportunities for social mobility among the women and young adults. These communities suffer the consequences of inequality and violence. Particularly, unemployed young adults are at risk of being recruited by gangs and by the organized crime. Therefore, #RetoALaU represents a key social assistance.
Thanks to #RetoALaU applicants will be able to enrol in tuition-free courses, seminars and lectures potentially homologated for undergraduate programs in multiple areas.
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Initially, #RetoALaU would only benefit 8,000 young adults, but thanks to the massive registration process additional places were granted. The final list of beneficiaries will be announced next Wednesday, August 19 at www.retoalau.edu.co.
In this context, Edna Bonilla the Secretary of Education assured:
“The youth responded in a very positive way to this opportunity. This will open them the doors to knowledge and a better quality of life. The huge response from applicants encouraged us to open more spots in the program. We will continue working so that education is a priority in our city."
Furthermore, the grantees will have free access to the 1,152 courses and extension programs offered by more than 21 universities, institutions and technological schools.
Programs will be taught in areas like engineering, architecture, urban planning, humanities, mathematics, natural sciences, economics, administration, accounting, education, fine arts, veterinary and medicine. Official registrations for those selected will be open until August 21st, 2020.
Additionally, recipients will be able to continue their academic process in higher education. Therefore, the courses, subjects, diplomas and extension programs completed will be homologated in technical, technological or professional undergraduate programs. In this sense, #RetoALaU will finance up to eight academic credits according to the subjects offered.
Moreover, based on the development of the program additional grants will be provided to financing pedagogical resources and connectivity for those in need.
