Ruhi Arbab & Simmons Baháʼí Schools, Colombia

EDUCATE A CHILD

About Ruhi Arbab & Simmons Baháʼí Schools

Mona Partner Since 2020

Since its inception in the early 1980's, the Ruhi Arbab and Simmons Baháʼí Schools have grown to provide high quality K-12 education to children and youth in Puerta Tejada and Jamundi, respectively. Both schools are overseen by the Ruhi Arbab Foundation.


These schools ensure their students become active agents in their learning process. Their mission is to build capacity in students to access scientific, technological, artistic, and spiritual knowledge in order to develop in them the qualities and skills of service to manage development initiatives in their community.

The Challenge

The population served by the school are students of low socio-economic status in rural and semi-urban areas whose parents work in the sugarcane industry. Most are of Afro-Colombian and mestizo descent, with homes where the mothers are the head of household and provide the majority of the family's income. Although children have access to public education, its quality is poor due to school overcrowding and inadequate teacher training.

The Solution:  Ruhi Arbab & Simmons Baháʼí School Programs

High Quality K - 12 Education

In 2025, Ruhi Arbab's academic, technological, and arts programs were strengthened via teacher training, including courses in applying Artificial Intelligence in pedagogical practice and workshops on classroom inclusion.


Family engagement initiatives deepened school-home relationships, including the "Seeds of Peace" project at Ruhi Arbab, which uses the metaphor of growing a plant to teach values like respect and empathy, "Coffee in the Classroom" open dialogue sessions with parents, and home visits to families of new students at Simmons.


Infrastructure improvements were completed at both schools, including renovation of Simmons high school offices, primary school IT lab, teachers' room, and counselor's office, as well as maintenance and equipment upgrades at Ruhi Arbab.






Both schools are recognized by the families and municipalities they serve for the quality of their educational work. Enrollment has been steadily increasing over the past several years, currently providing high quality education to 677 students.


In addition to teaching academics, technology, and the arts, the school

offers spiritual and moral education that inspires students to be of service in their communities and promotes their personal and social transformation. In each grade, students are also involved in community service work throughout the school year, such as visiting nursing homes for the elderly, teaching children and junior youth, and environmental stewardship activities. 

How we help

Mona began partnering with the Ruhi Arbab and Simmons Baha'i schools in 2020 by supporting the construction of three new primary grade classrooms, two sets of bathrooms, and providing partial scholarships for all students. The expansion supported the schools to continue providing vital education to their student population so that they may develop intellectually, materially and spiritually.

Ruhi Arbab/Simmon's 2025 Progress

With your help:

  • 677 students educated across both schools 
  • 42 teachers trained 
  • Family engagement initiatives strengthened with 1,031 parents engaged 
  • Infrastructure improvements completed at both schools, including renovation of Simmons high school offices, IT lab, and counselor's office

Ruhi Arbab/Simmon's 2026 Plans

Mona's commitment: $76,900

  • Educate 681 students across both schools with partial scholarships for all students 
  • Provide specialized training support for four teachers/directors to pursue studies in technology, school environment, and financial management 
  • Renovate reception and filing area at Simmons and improve stairway safety with a roof and protective railings 
  • Conduct home visits to families 
Support the 2026 Plans

Updates

August 2026 - Teacher Yesica launched the "Family Devotions: United in Faith, Values, and Coexistence" project with her fourth-grade students and their families to strengthen the connection between home and school through shared devotional gatherings.


Over five months, 14 of the 20 families took turns leading devotional meetings, creating opportunities for prayer, reflection, and activities centered on values and personal growth. The gatherings also helped families build friendships and strengthen relationships with teachers and one another.


Teacher Yesica observed that involving parents in classroom life strengthened trust between families and the school. She also found that beginning each day with a time of spiritual reflection created a greater sense of serenity, unity, and readiness to learn, improving relationships and the overall classroom environment.


January 2024 - In 2023, the Ruhí Arbab school began a project called Cultivating Hope in collaboration with FUNDAEC that aims to teach students and their families about regenerative agriculture and food security.


Working with 30 families of students in Grades 6-7, the project has so far involved trainings on nutrition, improvements to the school garden, and a School Store project that will eventually offer families high quality  organic produce from the garden.

Other Mona Partners you may be interested in

ADCAM, BRAZIL

Badi School, PANAMA

FUNDAEC, COLOMBIA