LET’S BUILD OUR FIRST SCHOOL TOGETHER
Starting now, every donation to 1064 Givers goes toward one goal: raising $30,000 USD to build our first school in La Guajira, Colombia. We'll keep going until we reach it. Any funds beyond this project's needs will go to our next school.
Why La Guajira
La Guajira is Colombia's northernmost region. It's home to the Wayuu, the largest Indigenous people in the country. Families live in rancherías (small settlements) spread far apart, often a long way from the nearest classroom. In La Guajira, 28.6% of people can't read or write, three times the national rate.
The teachers are there, and the government pays them. What's missing is the building. Families in the region are already on a waiting list. This community isn't being talked into wanting a school. It has been asking for one.
Where the School Will Go
We have two possible locations. The final choice depends on how much we raise.
Jamuchencho: About three years ago, the concrete foundations for four classrooms were poured here. The classrooms were never finished, and the foundations are still waiting.
Cucurumana: This school serves 500 students with 24 teachers in 14 classrooms. It needs four more classrooms.
We'll confirm the site once funding is secured and an agreement is signed with the local government.
How It Gets Built
We raise the funds together. Every gift, big or small, brings the first classroom closer to standing.
We choose the site. Once we know what we've raised, we pick the community and sign an agreement with the local government, which lays the foundation.
We build. In just one to two weeks, walls, a roof, doors, windows, paint and tiled floors turn a slab of concrete into real classrooms.
The government steps in. It provides the teachers, furniture, water, electricity and upkeep, so your gift becomes a working school, not an empty building.
We stay close. Our work doesn't end when the paint dries. Together with Fundación Ancla, we'll keep visiting and checking in with the school to make sure the government keeps its word and the students have what they need to thrive.
What Your Gift Builds
1 classroom: $8,130, for up to 60 students
2 classrooms: $14,160, for up to 120 students
3 classrooms: $18,880, for up to 180 students
A large bathroom block: $9,600
Where Your Donation Goes
Our $30,000 goal covers building the school plus a cushion for the unexpected costs that come with any construction project. It also covers the costs of running the project, such as fees and the trips our team makes to the site to oversee the work.
Any money raised beyond what this project needs will be saved for our next school. Every dollar you give goes toward building schools in Colombia.
Where It Started
When Ema founded 1064 Givers, her journey began right here. She was researching Colombia's education system, and visiting the communities of La Guajira taught her more than any report could. Building a school here brings 1064 Givers back to where it began.
Our Partners
We're excited to partner with Laura Montero, co-founder of Kasa Jauz, a Chicago-based Latin American cultural brand and traveling museum. Laura is from La Guajira, and this project hits close to home. Since 2017 she has worked alongside the Wayuu communities, helping turn their visibility into real work on the ground. Together we'll curate events and a fundraiser to reach our goal.
The school will be built with Fundación Ancla Colombia. Since 2002 they have built 689 classrooms across eight regions of Colombia, including 40 classrooms in Riohacha. They already have the building method, the community relationships and the local government partnerships.
Join Us
Come celebrate the culture of La Guajira with us at An Evening for La Guajira on December 5, with cocktails, live music and a curated exhibition of the region's heritage. Watch our Events page for details.
1064 Givers is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law, and every donor receives a written receipt.