Crepes & Waffles
La Leona
In Cajamarca, Tolima, a region shaped by years of armed conflict, Crepes & Waffles turned to education as a pathway for local development through the creation of La Leona School. Developed under Colombia’s Works for Taxes mechanism, La Leona is a high-quality rural public school designed with innovative, context-specific infrastructure to inspire learning through dignity and aspiration.
From the outset, the goal was clear. This was not only about building a school, but also about creating an educational project capable of transforming the children's experience in the territory. To do so, the physical space needed to be paired with a pedagogical strategy that would bring it to life.
The Challenge
While Crepes & Waffles’ commitment extended beyond building a physical school, La Leona was envisioned as a living space rooted in care, transformation, and opportunity. The challenge was to translate this vision into an educational approach grounded in meaningful experiences, connected to students’ realities, their territory, and life beyond the classroom.
The Solution
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We worked closely with students, families, and teachers to understand their needs, realities, and aspirations.
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We coordinated partnerships with key stakeholders, including the Tolima Department of Education, the educational community (CESA, ATAL), Crepes & Waffles, and public–private partners.
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We designed and piloted a context-driven educational model integrating territory, pedagogy, and social development.
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We launched and supported programs in agroecology, school-based entrepreneurship, and literacy development in partnership with ATAL.
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We supported the consolidation of the model and the search for funding to ensure its effective implementation and scaling.
