Bogota, Colombia, Feb. 7, 2024 — Best Buddies in Colombia, the country’s subsidiary of Best Buddies International, a nonprofit dedicated to creating opportunities for friendship, employment, leadership development and inclusive living for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), held a Christmas campaign with Aqualia that fundraised $7,600 for their innovative Best Buddies School.

The Best Buddies School, created in 2021, is an informal training program that aims to strengthen and develop adults’ — typically in their early to mid-20s — socio-emotional skills and work competencies with IDD to prepare them for long-term employment. In these courses, four training modules are implemented where students are taught vital workforce skills, develop job profiles and work on a “life project.” To date, 15 courses have been held, and 386 people have participated.

“These are informal and free training courses,” Oscar Urrego, a program manager for Best Buddies in Colombia, said. “Many of the participants have studied up to high school, with some participants having been trained as assistants and technicians for organizations like the National State Learning Service.”

The fundraiser will allow Best Buddies in Colombia to provide over 3,300 hours of training through the program, which can educate up to an additional 23 participants.

“In the midst of the pandemic, we created [the Best Buddies School] to train [people] with IDD in soft skills…such as teamwork and time management so that, when the job opportunity arises, they can have a decent job,” Alejandra Arenas, the director of Best Buddies in Colombia, said in an interview.

To learn more about Best Buddies in Colombia, click here.

About Best Buddies
Best Buddies^® is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development, inclusive living, and family support for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Founded in 1989 by Anthony K. Shriver, Best Buddies is a vibrant organization that has grown from one original chapter to nearly 3,000 middle school, high school, and college chapters worldwide. Today, Best Buddies’ 12 formal programs — Elementary Schools, Middle Schools, High Schools, Colleges, Citizens, e-Buddies®, Jobs, Ambassadors, Promoters, Transitions, Inclusive Living and Eunie’s Buddies— engage participants in each of the 50 states and in 45 countries, positively impacting the lives of nearly one million people with and without disabilities around the world. In many cases, as a result of their involvement with Best Buddies, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities secure rewarding jobs, live on their own, become inspirational leaders, and make lifelong friendships. For more information, please visit bestbuddies.org or connect with us via Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Media Inquiries
Best Buddies International
Nicole Maddox
Vice President, Communications
NicoleMaddox@Bestbuddies.org