Kindergarten opens in notorious drug corridor in Bogota

A new Kindergarten opened on Tuesday in one of the poorest areas of Colombia’s capital, Bogota, signifying the first step in Mayor Gustavo Petro’s plan to help 270,000 young children in the city.

The plan proposed by Mayor Petro aims to ensure successful childhood development for over 270,000 children between the ages of zero and five in Colombia’s capital district. The Ministry of Social Integration will invest of $118,000 to the plan while other local investors are said to be providing $27,610 to the project.

La Libelulosa, the first kindergarten built by project funds, is also the first on the notorious Calle Bronx (Bronx street) in Bogota, known for its drug dealing and large homeless population.

Mayor Petro tweeted Tuesday, “In the ‘Bogota Humana’ childhood is the priority” followed by a photo of the new school.

Petro has been a key figure in assisting the Bronx, proposing the controversial plan to create medical centers that provide illegal narcotics to drug addicts. The Bronx is a two block area in central Bogota where at least 2,000 people live on the streets.

MORE: Bogota mayor wants drug consumption centers

Sources

Related posts

Former top Petro aide jailed amid corruption probe

Former Medellin Cartel boss te return to Colombia on December 12

Colombia’s police raid 11 prisons in attempt to curb extortion