With the support of the ILO, Arleidis Pushaina overcomes barriers to study technology and serve her Wayúu community
From the Lomamatos ranchería in the municipality of Hatonuevo (La Guajira), Arleidis Pushaina Pushaina is moving forward with determination as a trainee in the SENATIC programme. At 16 years old, this young indigenous woman from the Pushaina clan is a shining example of perseverance and leadership for her family and community. With great effort and enthusiasm, she faces the daily challenge of studying software programming in a region where access to education remains limited.
Arleidis was born in the heart of Wayúu territory, surrounded by maize crops, traditional games, ancestral dances like the yonna, and the art of weaving mochilas and chinchorros. Her childhood, enriched by the wisdom of her grandmother and the craftwork of her mother, Francisca, was filled with learning rooted in her community a foundation that now fuels her motivation to study and become a role model for others.
Her path has not been easy. Like many indigenous youths in Colombia’s Caribbean region, she faces geographic and economic barriers to accessing training. To attend SENATIC classes, which are held in the opposite shift from school, she must pay an additional fare of ten thousand pesos. When she cannot afford it, she walks two hours from her ranchería to the urban centre of Hatonuevo. She does so with the conviction that her education is not just a personal project, but a collective journey.
“Many times not everyone can come down from the ranchería, but I know what I’m doing is important for my siblings and for my community,” says Arleidis. “SENATIC has taught me things I never imagined. I’ve learned to code, to understand myself, and to support others too.”
She is currently enrolled in the Technical Vocational Programme in Software Programming offered through SENATIC at Nuestra Señora del Carmen School, with support from SENA, MinTIC and the ILO. The impact has been profound. For Arleidis, technology is more than a tool it is a gateway to self discovery, skill development and meaningful contribution to her environment. Her leadership is evident: her peers respect her, and many see her as an example to follow.
Arleidis was born in the heart of Wayúu territory, surrounded by maize crops, traditional games, ancestral dances like the yonna, and the art of weaving mochilas and chinchorros. Her childhood, enriched by the wisdom of her grandmother and the craftwork of her mother, Francisca, was filled with learning rooted in her community a foundation that now fuels her motivation to study and become a role model for others.
Her path has not been easy. Like many indigenous youths in Colombia’s Caribbean region, she faces geographic and economic barriers to accessing training. To attend SENATIC classes, which are held in the opposite shift from school, she must pay an additional fare of ten thousand pesos. When she cannot afford it, she walks two hours from her ranchería to the urban centre of Hatonuevo. She does so with the conviction that her education is not just a personal project, but a collective journey.
“Many times not everyone can come down from the ranchería, but I know what I’m doing is important for my siblings and for my community,” says Arleidis. “SENATIC has taught me things I never imagined. I’ve learned to code, to understand myself, and to support others too.”
She is currently enrolled in the Technical Vocational Programme in Software Programming offered through SENATIC at Nuestra Señora del Carmen School, with support from SENA, MinTIC and the ILO. The impact has been profound. For Arleidis, technology is more than a tool it is a gateway to self discovery, skill development and meaningful contribution to her environment. Her leadership is evident: her peers respect her, and many see her as an example to follow.
Her first dream is to study nursing at the University of La Guajira so she can return and serve her community. Although she does not yet have the tools to start a digital enterprise, thanks to the skills acquired through the SENATIC project, she is already planning to use digital platforms such as social media, online marketing and a potential website to promote the ancestral craftwork of her mother Francisca and other women from the Pushaina clan. Their handmade mochilas, chinchorros, hammocks, dresses and accessories are deeply rooted in Wayúu tradition and Arleidis hopes to help them reach new markets. Her younger brothers say they want to be like her one day. She is clear about her mission: it is not only about going far, but also about paving the way for others to follow.
In a land marked by neglect, where the desert sun shines on the hopes of its youngest generations, Arleidis walks, learns, teaches and perseveres. As she says in her own language and voice: falling is part of the journey. What matters is getting up and continuing for herself, for her people, and for the future she is helping to build.
In a land marked by neglect, where the desert sun shines on the hopes of its youngest generations, Arleidis walks, learns, teaches and perseveres. As she says in her own language and voice: falling is part of the journey. What matters is getting up and continuing for herself, for her people, and for the future she is helping to build.
Arleidis Pushaina Pushaina is one of the 33,000 students continuing in 2025 under Line 1 of the SENATIC project a nationwide alliance between MinTIC, SENA and the ILO aimed at young people in the articulated upper secondary technical education stream.
