We would like to congratulate Carmen Sofia Peña, Class of 2005, on the launch of the program of her co-creation; #JuntosAprendemos, aimed at improving the capacity of the Colombian educational system, in order to offer inclusive and quality education.
Carmen Sofia who has a Bachelor of Business Administration from Kennesaw State University and a Master of Arts in Latin American Studies from Georgetown University currently holds the position of Vice President of the Child Protection Unit at Partners of the Americas in Washington.
We had the chance to talk to Carmen Sofia about this program and about her memories as a KCP student.
Click here to learn more about #JuntosAprendemos.
Can you please share with us the inspiration behind the co-creation process for the U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID) funded #JuntosAprendemos activity in Colombia?
The inspiration to lead the co-creation of USAID’s Juntos Aprendemos came from my strong belief in Nelson Mandela’s quote that “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”. Providing inclusive and high-quality education in Colombia, in areas impacted by migration, targeting the most vulnerable children and youth, is key to alleviating poverty, eliminating inequality, and helping children and youth develop skills needed for learning and future success.
As Vice-President for the Child Protection Unit at Partners of the Americas (POA), I have led multiple proposals all over the Latin American and the Caribbean region. But Juntos Aprendemos was for sure a very special one! It meant combining one of my greatest passions, education, in my home country, Colombia. It is a unique opportunity to give back to Colombia, the country where I was born, and gave me so much during my early years. Along with our core implementing Partners, ProAntioquia, Parque Explora, and Fundación Carvajal, we will be working in nine target geographical areas with large populations of Venezuelan migrants and Colombian returnees, including Barranquilla.
How has your KCP experience impacted your life and the choices you have made in your career?
KCP truly impacted my life. At KCP, I had an opportunity to receive an unrivaled education, receive the guidance of highly professional school staff. I was surrounded by teachers, classmates, and many others that shared valuable principles and that truly made KCP’s experience unique. KCP also offered me a solid base that allowed me to succeed in higher education and to search for what I really wanted to be and how I wanted to contribute back to my community.
What advice would you give KCP students? Especially for those who would like a similar career path as yours?
Enjoy every day and learn everything you can, bringing all those lessons with you as you continue to grow personally and professionally. Take every opportunity you can to learn, listen to others, be creative and innovative, be persistent, work hard to excel in those subjects you really like, and engage in extracurricular activities you are passionate about. Time will go by very quickly so take advantage of every opportunity to start shaping your career path now!
For those that want to go into international development, mix your activities with relevant experiences such as community service, volunteering, traveling, connecting with peers in other countries and learning from their experiences, learning other foreign languages, and start getting practical experience working alongside practitioners.
What are some of your best memories or experiences from your time at KCP?
There are a lot of good memories from my time at KCP, having fun with my classmates, traveling for school-related activities (Bi-national and MUN). KCP and my fellow classmates hold a very special place in my heart!
What makes you proud to be a member of the KCP community?
I am proud to be part of the KCP family and everywhere I go, feel proud of where I come from and where I am today. I am grateful for the opportunities at KCP that paved the way to get to where I am. I am proud to see many other KCP Tigers succeed and leave a footprint everywhere they go, and I have no doubt that generations to come will continue to do this given the top-class education we receive at KCP.
