Indigenous youth transform healthcare in La Guajira
In many rural and Indigenous regions of Colombia, pursuing higher education after high school remains a major challenge. Poverty, the long distances to urban centers, and limited transportation options prevent thousands of young people in La Guajira from continuing their studies. At the same time, these Indigenous communities face a heightened risk of illness due to unsafe water, chronic food insecurity, and the absence of basic medical services.
Responding to these local needs, Malteser International launched a program to strengthen community resilience through health education. This past February, we introduced a scholarship initiative to train young Indigenous leaders as Technical Nursing Assistants, empowering them to address the shortage of medical care in their territories.
53 young people from Wayuu indigenous communities participated in this training program. The scholarship covered tuition, meals, uniforms, academic materials, daily transportation, and graduation fees. The training was conducted in partnership with local Wayuu organization IPSI Anashiwaya, and the Instituto Politécnico del Caribe (INCAT), a community college in Riohacha. Upon completion, students received an official certification as health technicians, endorsed by the Colombian Ministry of Health, enabling them to provide primary healthcare in their own communities, work at health centers, and continue their education.
Empowering local leaders
Inelva is a young woman from the community of Chotemana in rural Riohacha. When she graduated from high school, she never imagined she would have the opportunity to study further. “There are no transportation routes here. To get to class, I have to walk several kilometers or pay for a motorcycle ride, which costs about 20 dollars each way,” she explains. However, thanks to the scholarship provided by Malteser International, she was able to study in the city of Riohacha.
“The support has been everything. They even provide transportation assistance, which helps us even more. Before, I didn’t know what the symptoms of a cold were or how to recognize signs of malnutrition. Now I feel confident talking about health with my community.”
Inelva, Technical Nursing Assistant
The training focused on preventive health education, first aid, protocols for common illnesses, and nutritional guidance, especially for pregnant women and children. This is essential in regions where there are no permanent hospitals and where a lack of knowledge can worsen otherwise treatable conditions. The course included practical training at local health institutions, which ensures real-world professional experience and opens doors to future employment opportunities for students.
A key component of the program is integrating ancestral tradition and knowledge with Western medicine and being able to communicate this knowledge in the Wayuunaiki language. This allows the Nursing Assistants to communicate effectively with their communities and to act as agents of intercultural dialogue between health institutions and patients.
This approach to community-based training addresses a structural need: the lack of access to healthcare and trained health personnel in rural and indigenous territories, and the urgent need to close care gaps in areas where basic needs are unmet. Through this initiative, young people not only gain valuable training, but the social fabric of their communities is strengthened, and lasting solutions are created—designed by and for the community itself.
“Today I know how to respond if someone needs care,” says Inelva. “This isn’t just a diploma—it’s a responsibility to my community.”
This text is based on an article published by Malteser International Americas in August 2025.
