Empowerment through English Initiative (EEI)

By Andrea Ortega

We are launching a new program! Empowerment through English Initiative (EEI) is our 6th program at Children Beyond Our Borders, Inc. (CBOB) and we are delighted to be offering an opportunity to our Service Trip Alumni to continue making an impact for our children. Thanks to a year of growth and a visionary Board of Directors this new program will help provide the girls Hogar in Medellin, Colombia, which we visit every year, with the keys to learning a second- language. Our English Teachers abroad are taking off for 4 months to provide them with an enriching curriculum to learn English through fun and innovatives way, as well as be mentors to the girls we have been serving for over 4 years. All in hopes, that when the girls graduate High School, they will be able to enter college.

We invite you to meet our 2 chosen teachers and get to know more about their adventures as they discover the beauty of Medellin and empower the children to receive an education. 

Meet Samantha:

Name:
​Samantha Ramos

Graduation Date: August 2015

​Trips attended with CBOB: Medellin Summer 2013, Medellin Summer 2014,

Experience in teaching english: Worked as a Language Assistant at the UF English Language Institute for a year and a half helping international students improve their listening and speaking skills in English.

Plans for the future: My future goals are to obtain a Master’s degree in International Development. I hope to continue working with communities in Latin America and eventually work with people from other parts of the world.  

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Meet Anna:

Name: Anna Diakun

Graduation Date:
May 2015

Trips attended with CBOB: Medellin Summer 2013, Medellin Summer 2014, Cartagena Spring Break 2016

Experience in teaching english: Worked at the UF English Language Institute for two years. Lead classes of international students to improve their listening and speaking skills in English for 9 semester.
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Plans for the future: My future goals are to study a Master's in Social Work with a focus in Clinical Practice, as well as continue to work with youth locally on personal development, and abroad in English.

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If this is something you could see yourself doing in the future, we invite you to participate in one of our Service Trips, Bound for Peace is an unforgettable experience and applications close January 31st! Visit www.chbob.org/bound-for-peace for more information!

To learn more about EEI, visit: www.chbob.org/empowerment-through-english-initiative ​

• Why did you chose to return to Colombia, what was your motivation?
  • Samantha: Anyone that I talk to knows my love for Colombia is never-ending. The culture is warm, the weather is beautiful and the people are so genuine and friendly. I am beyond excited to have the time and energy to 100% dedicate myself to a cause that means the world to me!
  • Anna: Really to have more time to be with the children and teach them a more rigorous curriculum. I'm excited to have the time to dig deep into the possibilities of what they can achieve through learning!
• Since this program is only for service trip alumni, what has been one of your favorite memories of being a part of CBOB?
  • Samantha:  One of my favorite memories was at the end of the Medellin Summer 2014 trip when we gave each child their own soft blanket to sleep with. We got to read bedtime stories and tuck everyone into bed.
  • Anna: I'm going to have to steal Samantha's answer and say the exact same thing. Giving each child their blanket, reading them bedtime stories, and tucking everyone into bed was a unique and magical experience. But picking one memory is difficult because so many of the children have imprinted memories of special moments that I will never forget.
• What do you hope English will do for the girls you will be serving?
  • Samantha: I hope that by learning English they will have increased opportunity for jobs in Colombia and that they will be able to have more cultural opportunities and experiences to go abroad.
  • Anna: I hope that learning English will open doors for the girls that they never would have imagined before. I hope it will exponentially grow their learning and help them become global citizens. Then they will be able to communicate and work with communities of people from all over the world.