Volunteering in Manizales

A day full of color, imagination, and smiles. That is the best way to sum up our recent visit to the Piecitos Colorados Antonio Nariño school in Manizales.

Our volunteers donned their yellow t-shirts to continue strengthening reading habits among the children—an initiative we champion through the Aprendamos Todos a Leer (Let's All Learn to Read) program, in partnership with the Fundación Luker.
 

The star of the day was the Lectómetro (Reading-Meter), a fun, educational tool we have been implementing in Piecitos Colorados schools since 2025. The goal? To help every student track and celebrate their own progress with books in an entertaining way.

Our volunteers joined the children in an activity designed to assess their reading fluency:

• Painting the Journey: Each student designed and painted their very own spaceship.
• Blast Off: Based on their reading and comprehension level, they placed their spaceship on one of the four levels of the Lectómetro (ranging from beginner all the way to super advanced!).
• Learning Through Play: This methodology encourages healthy, motivating competition for the kids, while giving teachers a clear snapshot of each student’s strengths and areas for improvement to help tailor their lessons.
   

As is tradition during our visits, we wrapped up the day with an exciting soccer match alongside the boys and girls. It was the perfect space to laugh, promote team spirit and sportsmanship, and encourage healthy lifestyle habits.