News Release

A New Dream Is Born In Villas De Aranjuéz, Cartagena

  • In Villas de Aranjuez, an alliance has been made between Shakira and her Foundation, the national Ministry of Education, Cartagena´s Major´s office, Mario Santo Domingo Foundation, Costa Cruises and the Program of Economic Cooperation and Development of the Switzerland  Embassy, with the Architecture Department of the ETH Zürich to make real the dream of a new Educational Institution.

  • 13.000 inhabitants of Villas de Aranjuéz will benefit from the construction of the new Educational Institution that will also be open as a community center for the development of the community.

  • In a total area of 14.500 m², will be build an space that will be promoting Quality Education for the children and young people of the region, based on innovation designs of sustainable architecture.

 

Cartagena, 5 November 2018. Shakira and her Pies Descalzos Foundation, the Ministry of Education with its Financial Fund of Educational Infrastructure, Cartagena's Major's office, the District Educational Secretary, Mario Santo Domingo Foundation, Costa Cruises and the program of Economic Cooperation and Development of the Switzerland Embassy in Colombia with the Architecture Department of the ETH Zürich, announce the beginning of the construction of a new Educational Institution in Cartagena city.

Today, the community of Villas de Aranjuéz is the engine of an investment of more than $14.700 million pesos, as part of a partnership of organizations that have the conviction to bring education, hope and thus pave the pathway for peace in this area of the country that has been victim of violence, inequality and indifference.

The partner's resources will be relevant for the construction of the new school. For its part, Mario Santo Domingo Foundation, whom is committed to sustainable development in Colombia, joins this project to open an early childhood development center that will receive children from 0 to 5 years.

On the other hand, the Italian company Costa Cruises, of which Shakira is testimonial since 2015, wants to be part of the development of spaces for primary and secondary, where the students and members of the community can be happy. The brick of happiness, a symbolic "first brick" of the new school, arrived at Cartagena; this brick that has travel around the world on board Costa ships has helped to promote this project.

Looking forward to provide this new institution with a sustainable and innovative structure, which optimize the multi-functionality of its spaces, the Economic Cooperation and Development Program of the Switzerland Embassy in Colombia, with the Architecture Department of the ETH Zürich, will provide high standard designs. These designs will consider the climatic conditions and its multifunctional spaces will be facilities for the teaching and the multi-generational training.

The new Educational Institution Pies Descalzos, Villas de Aranjuéz, will be built by a Portuguese construction firm, Mota-Engil, through the Ministry of Education with its Financial Fund of Educational Infrastructure. Spaces for classrooms will be open as well as a high-tech center, artistic expression, pre-school classrooms and multipurpose classes. In addition, spaces such as a kitchen, a dinning hall and the library.

Cartagena de Indias, once again will witness the promise of change, development and education for the improvement of the life quality of its inhabitants.

 

 

For further information:

Costa Cruises  - Press Office -  Tel. +39 010 5483523 / 010 5483068 -  costapressoffice@costa.it

Gabriele Baroni – Communication Director – cell. +39 349 7668013 - baroni@costa.it

Davide Barbano – Media Relations manager – cell. +39 334 6525216 - barbano@costa.it 

Press releases and photos available at www.costapresscenter.com