Marta Vela

Colombian educator revolutionizing rural education through mobile schools

Marta Vela's Educational Revolution

Marta Vela (b.1978) is a Colombian educator whose 'Escuelas Móviles' (Mobile Schools) program has transformed education access in remote Andean regions. After witnessing high dropout rates among indigenous children, she pioneered vehicle-based classrooms that travel to rural communities. This model now serves over 12,000 students annually across 8 departments.

Innovative Teaching Methods

Developed bilingual (Spanish-Quechua) curricula incorporating local cultural practices. Her 'School on Wheels' buses are equipped with solar-powered tech labs and library systems. Featured in UNESCO's 2019 report Innovating Education in Latin America (UNESCO Case Study), the program reduced school abandonment rates by 73% in pilot areas.

Global Recognition

Recipient of the 2020 Rolex Award for Enterprise and 2021 Ashoka Fellowship. Partnered with Google's 'Educa con Google' initiative to train 500+ teachers in digital literacy. Her 2022 TED Talk "Rethinking Classrooms for the 21st Century" has inspired similar programs in Peru and Ecuador.

Expansion and Legacy

Launched the 'Escuela Móvil 2.0' with AI-driven learning tools in 2023. Founded the Latin American Network of Mobile Education (LANME), connecting 25 countries. Current projects include building 100+ community learning centers using recycled shipping containers. Her memoir Wheels of Knowledge (2022, Penguin Random House) details her journey.