Carmen Paz de Rojas

Colombian educator who built schools for marginalized communities in the Andes

Carmen Paz de Rojas (1928-2011) transformed rural education in Colombia through her grassroots efforts. Starting in the 1950s, she established 17 bilingual schools in the Andean region using locally sourced materials, educating over 3,000 indigenous children. Her innovative UNESCO-recognized model integrated Quechua language instruction with modern curricula. De Rojas pioneered mobile teacher training programs using mule caravans, reaching remote villages inaccessible by road. Her 1968 publication "Education Without Borders" became a blueprint for rural education systems across Latin America. The Colombian government honored her with the National Merit Medal in 1985.