The partnership between Drummond Ltd.; Fundeban, the foundation of Tecnicas Baltime de Colombia S.A. or Tecbaco; Cemex; and LBH Group Colombia, supported by the municipal Mayor, has been vital to improving infrastructure in benefit to around 500 boys and girls as they go back to school in 2023.
The partnering companies and the administration of Cienaga continue to work toward the Sustainable Development Goals with this investment of more than $195 million pesos in works to remodel and equip six classrooms.
“Thanks to partners like Drummond, Cemex, Fundeban, and LBH Colombia, our students are coming back to school with spaces that provide excellent learning conditions. These spaces have a purpose. They help students learn and keep them motivated, in favor of a better teaching and learning process,” said the school’s Dean, Marelvis Pacheco Polo, during the official ceremony to inaugurate the classrooms.
Refurbishing the classrooms improved the visibly deteriorated infrastructure. The work included replacing the asbestos roofing with thermo acoustic roofing, redoing floors with ceramic tiles, and changing the ceilings from drywall to PVC, along with making the ceilings higher to keep the rooms cooler.
Ceiling fans and light fixtures were also replaced, doors with protection panels were installed, and the internal and external walls of the six classrooms were repaired.
“This story began in 2005 in partnership with Drummond Ltd., when we built six classrooms. This time, we wanted to come together again to refurbish those classrooms and continue bringing benefits to students, including displaced persons and migrants,” stated Iris Yancy Orozco, director of Tecbaco’s Foundation called Fundeban.
Each partner played a key role in project execution. Drummond Ltd. donated the construction materials, the Tecbaco Foundation provided the labor, Cemex donated the cement, and the LBH Group donated desks for each classroom and computers for the IT room.
As Karen Villafaña, Secretary of Education in Cienaga, stated: “When you invest in education you invest in the future. You invest in progress and you invest in a better tomorrow for our society. That’s why we are deeply grateful to Drummond and all of our partners who have made dreams come true for our children.”