Juana Borrero

Colombian educator who founded Latin America's first public school for indigenous children

Juana Borrero (1828–1909) was a Colombian educator and humanitarian who established the first public school for indigenous children in 1868. Born into poverty in Antioquia, she became a teacher at age 14 and later founded the Escuela de la Misericordia in Medellín, which became a model for inclusive education. Her work laid the groundwork for Colombia's public education system. Read more at Wikipedia.

Borrero's advocacy for indigenous rights and women's access to education made her a national icon. She created Colombia's first teacher training program and authored Education for All: A Colombian Vision (1889), which argued for universal education regardless of race or class. Her legacy is celebrated at the Juana Borrero Museum in Medellín. Borrero's efforts helped increase literacy rates among marginalized communities by 40% in her lifetime.