Norte de Santander is a Colombian department that shares a border with Venezuela. In recent years, forced migration from the neighboring country, along with Colombia’s ongoing armed conflict, has increased the risks of child recruitment, school dropout rates, and levels of xenophobia and aporophobia. The challenge has been to become a territory that embraces diverse identities and expressions amid violence between the State and non-state armed groups. This project was created to bring a transrational peace perspective to the integration of migrants, refugees, returnees, and their host communities—strengthening their capacity for social integration and, above all, for self-management and collective management of social and cultural conflicts. It places particular focus on families and communities, working with children, adolescents, parents, teachers, and community leaders.
Kairós is conceived as a framework of alternative and localized education labs, with modules and methodologies that can be adapted in a LEGO-style format based on the specific needs identified in prioritized communities. This is made possible through a participatory diagnostic process co-designed and co-developed with the participants.
Each thematic component is implemented through experiential and artistic labs, structured in three phases: Connect, Build, and Reflect. Some of the core modules include: Discrimination and Bullying (drawing and memes), Identify and Embrace Your Emotions (mental health), Gender and Stereotypes (collage and playroles), Circles of Care (poster-making), Embrace Your Vulnerability with Awareness (mental health), Environment and Sustainability (photography and planting), Safe Internet and Social Media (role-playing), Managing diversity, Futures Design, among others.
We believe that shifting social imaginaries and strengthening skills in children and adolescents is more effective and sustainable when their families, communities, and schools are also involved. Therefore, we’ve designed a complementary set of labs for mothers, fathers, and caregivers, which include the following modules: Healing Wounds – Childhood and Parenting, Parental Patterns, Migration Grief and Emotional Resilience, Managing diversity, Rebuilding My Life Story. Our School operates in territories with the presence of mixed and border communities, applying intersectional approach
Our School operates in mixed and border communities, using intersectional approaches to identify, prevent, and counteract violence such as racism, aporophobia, and xenophobia. Kairós has evolved through a learning curve that allows each edition to adapt to territorial and socio-political changes. In 2021, it reached 233 children and 210 caregivers across four communities, with 4 community events and 80 people receiving psychosocial support. In 2022, 190 children and 78 caregivers participated, including 190 youth in psychosocial care, 2 “Museums to the Neighborhood,” and a caregiver exchange session. In 2024, in partnership with ICBF, Kairós focused on peacebuilding and protective environments in Megacolegio La Frontera, serving 80 Peace Mediators aged 7–15—most of them migrants. Artistic-pedagogical labs strengthened emotional resilience, conflict resolution, and leadership. The program addressed cross-border tensions and mental health risks, piloting early detection strategies and empowering students as community peacebuilders.
In this critical period, it is essential to mitigate potential vulnerability caused by the increase in armed violence, while also creating opportunities to strengthen aspects of development that were previously hindered by the absence of citizen cooperation networks. This moment offers a unique chance to reshape, relearn, build, and enhance the skills and knowledge needed for a dignified life and intergenerational coexistence. We are concerned with maintaining a sustained presence in vulnerable territories over the medium and long term, even as we explore new regions. Additionally, in each edition of the program, we define the set of modules and themes based on the specific needs of the population we aim to serve.
With this new version, we aim to increase its territorial, institutional, and social impact while preserving its localized, participatory, and adaptable approach, through two main strategies: 1) Digitizing part of the content using a WhatsApp chatbot and a digital learning platform that can be used in areas with limited logistical capacity. 2) Scaling to a Kairós Schools Network across replicator territories, where each school operates autonomously but shares core principles, tools, and pedagogical support.
