2023-05-15 19:28:52
Carlos Cardenas | [email protected]
Edinson de Arco, is a Colombian farmer naturalized in the United States, who lived for many years in Charleston serving as a chaplain to the community, but returned to his country in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
At that time, he saw the need that many young students from his town María la Baja, on the Caribbean coast, had to continue their studies. For this reason, he decided to start a coffee project that allowed him to raise resources to start a school for parents and university scholarships.
BENEFITS AND REPLICA
“Every year we manage to deliver up to five scholarships that allow low-income youth to enter university: in addition to educational programs that help children carry out school activities from home. To date, more than 200 families have benefited”, Edinson explained regarding the ‘Café Graciela’ project, which basically consists of its cultivation, production and sale.
Given the success of the program, the local non-profit organization The Pink House and ST Andrew Presbyterian Church have joined forces with the Café Graciela project to launch it in the West Ashley area of the city of Charleston. The goal is to help Hispanic and African-American children in the area.
“Edison wants to achieve his dream of helping the children of his country and we want the same benefits for our community and our children, plus we really liked the Colombian coffee,” said Spike Coleman, Reverend St Andrew Church.
EXCHANGE
The Pink House, ST Andrew Church and the Café Graciela project have created a committee to replicate this initiative in the city of Charleston, until a cultural exchange between the children of María la Baja and Charleston is achieved.
“We are hoping to put in contact, through emails and other communication technologies, the children of Colombia with those of Charleston, so that they can learn regarding different cultures and get to know each other,” said Reverend King, director of The Pink. House.
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