At 7:00 in the morning, when the sun was just beginning to light up the mountains of Villanueva, Santander, a delegation from the Industrial University of Santander passed through the large arch that welcomes visitors to the town. Their destination: Eliseo Pinilla Rueda School, where more than a thousand students were eagerly awaiting a day full of hope.
The welcome was a true cultural celebration. Dances, performances, traditional verses, and a theatrical presentation by the UIS Theater Group marked the beginning of an event that brought not only furniture, but also joy and a sense of community.
The Socially Responsible Donations Day benefited 1,170 students from the institution, directly impacting nearly 800 primary school children from both urban and rural campuses.
For Irvin Pinzón, coordinator and outgoing principal of the institution, this contribution holds deep meaning: “First, I want to thank the Industrial University of Santander, our university, for this gesture and for this commitment to education. It carries a sense of gratitude. You contribute enormously to early education, to foundational learning.”
He also highlighted the reach of the donation in often overlooked contexts: “All of this is intended for primary school children, not only from urban campuses, but also rural ones… this contribution from UIS is immense; they are greatly contributing to the education of our students.”
From the students’ perspective, the impact is also clear. The student representative stated: “This furniture improves the educational quality for students, and I thank UIS for this support.”
Meanwhile, student Jeffrey Mateo Campos Ferreira emphasized how these resources transform daily life in the classroom: “This helps us, for example, if a chair breaks, we already have a replacement… it improves studying, and having new chairs also improves our workspace.” He added emotionally: “Thank you very much for the chairs, the desks… we thank you with all our hearts for everything you have brought.”
Among desks, chairs, tables, and boards, not only were physical tools delivered, but also new opportunities to learn under dignified conditions. In every smile on the faces of the youngest students, the true impact of the day was reflected: planting the future through education.
