On Wednesday, June 5th, the Colombian Minister of Culture, Carmen Inés Vásquez, and the Regional Promotion and Heritage Vice-minister, David Melo, visited the facilities of the ‘Tecnocentro Somos PacÃfico’ to have a first hand experience of the important work and impact of this initiative in the marginalized east side of Cali.
The Minister expressed her enthusiasm about how the activities she witnessed at the Tecnocentro can be considered useful tools for social transformation, and she praised the work of all those who have made this project possible. In addition, she committed to support this kind of initiatives which evidence how art and culture are essential elements in the country’s regional transformation.
The Minister and her staff showed great interest in the various programs and methodologies of ‘Somos PacÃfico’. During their visit, they had the opportunity to admire the arts and crafts created by the fine arts students and to listen to a repertoire of music from the Colombian Pacific coast performed by the girls’ choir and the Tecnocentro ‘s symphonic youth orchestra in honor of the Minister’s birthplace, Buenaventura. The dance and music groups of the Somos Pacifico Talent Agency also shared with the Minister their impressive skills . The area of income generation also had the opportunity to present to her the ‘Rumbo Joven’ employment program. The afternoon concluded with a pleasant discussion with Alvaralice Foundation representatives and the Somos Pacifico’s staff.