(ANS – Medellín – October 30, 2026) – Some meetings open the door to new possibilities. At the Pontifical Bolivarian University in Colombia, Father Gustavo Maury López, Economer of the St. Louis Bertrando Province of Medellín, Colombia (COM), met with the country’s First Lady, Ana Lucía Pineda. She leads some of the nation’s most important social initiatives and serves as patron of the “ICETEX, A Heart for Education” program.

This meeting goes beyond a simple formal encounter. It brings together a religious family—committed for more than a century to educating Colombia’s poorest young people—with one of the key figures currently mobilizing national solidarity in the aftermath of the earthquake.

For the Salesian communities affected by the earthquake, this connection offers visibility, an opportunity for dialogue, and a way to communicate the needs of the children and young people they serve to those leading the country’s major social initiatives. More than a century ago, Don Bosco summed it up in a phrase that takes on renewed meaning today: Education is a matter of the heart.

From the “One Heart” Emergency Campaign to Education

Ana Lucía Pineda has made women, children, and older adults the priorities of her work, adopting an approach characterized by direct engagement with local communities. The day after the earthquake, she launched the “Colombia, One Heart” campaign, which established more than 30 collection centers and brought together more than 15 companies and institutions to deliver food and medicine to the hardest-hit areas. In recognition of this commitment, she received the Nydia Quintero Turbay Medal.

Today, this same commitment extends to education. As patron of the ICETEX initiative, the First Lady invites businesses and citizens to support young people who wish to access, continue, and complete higher education.

This program closely aligns with the Salesian mission: serving boys, girls, and young people through vocational training and support for the most vulnerable families. For this reason, the COM Province sees this initiative as an opportunity for dialogue and cooperation in support of those served by its Salesian works.

Two Initiatives, One Goal

On October 28, the university brought together some of the country’s leading figures in social investment. The Salesian Province participated in both events with a specific objective: to raise awareness of the situation facing Salesian works affected by the earthquake among those who can influence decisions and support recovery initiatives.

• AFE “Prosperidad Compartida” Forum 2026: This annual gathering brings together foundations, businesses, academic institutions, the public sector, and international cooperation organizations. This year’s edition dedicated a session to the emergency and the recovery and reconstruction efforts following the earthquake. The October 28 program focused on the themes of emergency response and education, featuring the panel discussion “Joining Forces Brings About Change: From Emergency to Action” and a presentation by former Portuguese minister Nuno Crato on evidence-based education.
• ICETEX: Launched in response to the August 10 earthquake, this initiative allows businesses and citizens to make donations through ICETEX to help young people access higher education, continue their studies, and earn academic credentials. Tatiana Céspedes, a lawyer and activist and wife of Colombia’s vice president, also attended the initiative’s presentation.

The Consequences of the Earthquake

The August 10 earthquake affected several Salesian communities in the cities of Cali, Condoto, Dosquebradas, Tuluá, Popayán, Ibagué, and Medellín. Behind every damaged building are children, teenagers, and young people waiting to return to their classrooms, laboratories, and parishes, along with families who have found themselves in increasingly vulnerable circumstances following the earthquake.

While technical assessments are underway to determine the full extent of the damage, the work of Salesian institutions continues thanks to the dedication of educators, staff members, and Salesians.

As the COM Province continues its numerous relief efforts for those affected by the earthquake, this meeting with the First Lady confirms that the education of young people can unite an entire country.

“As a Province, we are not sitting idly by. We are knocking on doors throughout Colombia, and every partnership we establish here multiplies the assistance generously arriving from abroad,” commented the Provincial Economer.

The solidarity demonstrated by Mission Offices and the international Salesian network has been crucial from the very beginning.

“We want to tell them, with gratitude and transparency, that their support is not going to waste,” the COM Province added. “It reaches a Province that is actively working, managing resources, and seeking to combine local resources with every donation received. Our engagement with the First Lady and the country’s foundations is a concrete demonstration of this commitment.”

For more information about relief efforts, current initiatives, and how to donate, visit the website dedicated to the emergency through the following link.