Have you ever really wanted something but had no way of obtaining it? If so, then you are familiar with the feeling of frustration experienced by a large percentage of the poor and vulnerable population in Columbia. Many of them yearn for the opportunity to receive an education in order to improve their lives, but financial difficulties stand as an obstacle to achieving this dream.
This lack of education due to financial limitations is a problem that organizations such as the Emmaus Road Foundation seek to eradicate in the Columbian society. Since its humble beginnings in 1991, the organization has helped many students and participated in several community building projects in Columbia. In this interview, Nathaniel Lizarazo, Vice-President of the Emmaus Road Foundation, discusses how his organization is helping people in Columbia achieve their dreams of receiving a formal education and becoming leaders in their communities.
(Nathaniel Lizarazo speaks to Emmaus Road Foundation students during a seminar on leadership development and vocational counseling.)
Interview by Rachael Adu
Please tell us a brief history of the Emmaus Road Foundation. What was the inspiration behind its establishment? What is its overall mission?
The genesis of the Emmaus Road Foundation is rooted in three inter-related realities. First, from my own reality growing up as a very poor child in the Andean Mountains of Colombia! I would have never accomplished the level of education I have today had it not been for the many sacrifices of my poor family, the help of my Christian church, and the generosity of many compassionate people. Thus, I feel compelled to return the gift I received to as many poor Colombian families as possible.
Secondly, there is compelling and powerful inspiration from a personal tragedy in our family, namely the death of our second child during the sixth month of pregnancy. Aware of our loss, a small Sunday school class of 12 children at Trinity Lutheran Church asked us what they could do to share our grief and lessen our loss. It was in response to such question that the vision of offering education to poor children in Colombia became a burning fire in our hearts. Emmaus Road Foundation thus represents the coordinates where human grief is intersected by the healing grace of God and the solidarity of the Christian community.
The children got really excited and started to donate pennies. Literal pennies! By the end of 1991 they had collected $112.96! This became the fertile seed of our organization by providing the first scholarship for one poor child in Colombia. Many scholarships would follow for children, young people, and adults seeking a dignified life and the development of needed Christian leadership for family, church, and society! All thanks to support from family members, friends, congregations, and non-profit organizations such as Givology.
Thirdly, Emmaus Road Foundation is inspired by the deep motivation and commitment of poor families in Colombia to sacrifice daily bread on their tables in order to provide education for their children. Through scholarships, counseling, spiritual accompaniment and leadership development, Emmaus Road Foundation makes the necessary investments desperately needed by these families to see their children succeed in becoming committed leaders and responsible citizens.
Anchored in these humble beginnings, the overall mission of the Emmaus Road Foundation is and will continue to be “building a dignified and just Colombia through formal education, leadership development and by offering the transforming opportunity of people to people relationships”.
What services does Emmaus Road Foundation provide the population it serves? How do these services make a difference in their lives?
The ongoing primary service we provide is formal elementary to university education. Our services at times involve the support of critical needs of Lutheran elementary and secondary schools who serve their communities regardless of religious affiliation.
Anchored in education, we further provide services of ongoing leadership development for our students. We also provide conflict resolution skills and holistic spiritual accompaniment through counseling and the support of a Christian community where people are valued, inspired, empowered, challenged, and commissioned to use their gifts in service to others.
The difference we continue to see in the lives of those we serve is the accomplishment of their dreams of obtaining formal education and thus significantly improving the quality of life of entire families. Given the fact that most of the families we serve experience the painful realities of economic exclusion and broken dreams, in addition to a lack of formal education, we accompany the whole process of helping them with a realistic spirituality of community accompaniment, empowerment and solidarity. We know that even if only one member of a family develops leadership skills, a significant contribution has been made to such family which will lead to new dynamics of motivation, hope and self-esteem.
Can you share with us a story about one of the students or projects you work with and how they have been impacted by Emmaus Road Foundation?
I will share with you the story of Alexandra Nossa. Written in her own words, the story of Alexandra is of true leadership and self-motivation.
“My name is Ivette Alexandra Nossa Perez. I am 30 years old and I am the oldest of three sisters. My family arrived in Bogota in 1985. We are originally from Sogamoso in Boyaca State. While living in Sogamoso we got to know the Lutheran Church. When we came to Bogota we lived in a rented apartment located at the first floor of St. Paul Lutheran Church, in southern Bogota. We lived there for seven years and it was there at St. Paul Lutheran Church that I started to receive scholarship from Emmaus Road Foundation. The scholarship made possible the culmination of all my secondary education. I bought books and paid for tuition with the money I received. When I graduated from high school I started a technical career on environmental management that lasted three years. Emmaus Road Foundation continued to support me with financial resources to finish this career as well. My family did not have the financial resources to pay for it because it was a private university and was very expensive.
(Alexandra and her husband, Hernan.)
I got married in 2004. My husband has been a blessing not only to me but also to my family. I work at Bogota’s El Dorado International Airport, thanks to the English skills I have gained and also to the studies I am currently doing on social communication. I have always wanted to finish a professional career, so I am making an effort to achieve that before I have my children.
(Alexandra and her family.)
I am thankful to God because He has blessed my family despite the difficulties we have had. They are the difficulties of poverty, broken dreams and many other life challenges. I also thank all the Emmaus Road Foundation donors for supporting the education of many children and youth here in my country of Colombia. Thank you for helping us to get our education which will allow us to support our families and be committed leaders for our beautiful country. To all those who invest in our education and leadership, I want to reassure you that your gifts continue to give us wings to fly. May you be richly rewarded for the empowering mission you share with us here in Colombia!
What would you say is one of the greatest achievements your organization has had since its establishment 19 years ago?
Without any doubt, one of the greatest achievements of the Emmaus Road Foundation has been the ability to see our sponsored students struggle through their educational process while remaining totally committed to reaching their goal of becoming professionals in their respective fields. Furthermore, it is indeed a great achievement not only to help students graduate from universities or technical vocational schools, but also to help them become committed leaders capable of bringing positive impact to their families and society. This could never have happened without the encouragement, inspiration and financial gifts of our generous supporters. We are forever thankful.
What is in store for the Emmaus Road foundation in the future?
It is our firm commitment to keep expanding our network of supporters so that the empowering gift of formal education and committed leadership can be shared with larger numbers of families and students. Given the increasing demands of technology and the inaccessibility of such technological opportunities to the poor and most vulnerable groups of Colombia, it is our dream to develop a formal training center in Bogota to train people in computer skills, entrepreneurship, micro-enterprises and the English language. Right now we are also working on having what we call a “House of Hospitality” in Bogota with capacity to receive groups of up to 15 people from the USA and other parts of the world who are interested in learning Spanish and immersing themselves in Colombian history, culture and relationships.
For more Information about Emmaus Road Foundation and their Students: Emmaus Road Foundation