At 23, Ángel is pursuing a university degree, running a small poultry business, and teaching children in his rural community in Colombia. Each of these efforts brings him closer to a future he is working hard to build—one where he can provide greater economic stability for his family and use his knowledge to serve others.

For Ángel, education and entrepreneurship have become closely connected, helping him turn his ambitions into practical steps toward a better future.

Creating opportunity through education

Ángel lives in a rural area of San Andrés de Sotavento, Colombia. Before joining FUNDAEC’s Solidarity Fund, his family’s income barely covered household necessities, leaving little room to invest in education, develop new businesses, or pursue longer-term goals.

FUNDAEC is a grassroots educational organization in Colombia that Mona Foundation has partnered with since 2020 to support education and community development.

In February 2024, Ángel became a tutor with FUNDAEC’s Preparation for Social Action (PSA) program.

PSA prepares young people to contribute to the well-being of their communities by combining education with practical service. Through his work as a tutor, Ángel helps others develop their knowledge and skills while strengthening his own teaching and leadership abilities.

In June 2025, he joined FUNDAEC’s Solidarity Fund, which provides scholarships to help young people, particularly those from rural communities, pursue professional and technical education.

Since joining the Solidarity Fund, Ángel has been able to expand his poultry business, increasing his income and contributing more to his family’s household expenses. He also earns income by providing supplementary lessons to children in his community.

His poultry business helps cover part of the cost of his university studies at CUN University, where he is pursuing a degree in Agroindustrial Business Administration.

For Ángel, this progress carries particular meaning because of the support his family has given him throughout his education. One of his greatest motivations is to give back to them by building a more secure financial future.

He has also noticed changes within his family beyond their improved economic circumstances. He describes stronger bonds of trust, friendship, and communication, along with a growing commitment to education and shared progress.

When one person’s initiative inspires another

As Ángel has developed his business and continued his education, his efforts have begun to encourage others to pursue ideas of their own.

Inspired by his example, another participant in FUNDAEC’s education program has begun offering classes for children. Members of Ángel’s family have also started developing their own businesses, including a beauty salon.

For Ángel, these are encouraging signs that his own progress can inspire others to take initiative and create new opportunities for themselves and their communities.

These developments also reflect an important part of FUNDAEC’s approach: helping people develop the knowledge, skills, and capacity to improve their own lives while contributing to the well-being of their communities.

A future shaped by learning and service

Ángel hopes to continue building on this progress. His immediate priority is to complete his university degree and further develop his business, creating greater stability for his family.

But his vision extends beyond his own success.

“I want to offer my knowledge, experiences and skills in service to the community,” he says.

He also hopes that more young people participating in PSA will have the opportunity to continue their education through the Solidarity Fund, strengthening their skills, developing their leadership, and creating initiatives that benefit their families and communities.

For Ángel, education, entrepreneurship, and service are all part of the future he is working to build. As he pursues his own goals, he is also helping others see what they might achieve.

And through the initiative of those inspired by his example, new possibilities are beginning to take shape.