Luker Foundation
Founder - Restrepo Family Country of Origin - Colombia Countries of Operation - Colombia Sector of Activity - Education, Entrepreneurship |
"An educated and entrepreneurial person is able to develop him-herself and to bring development to his-her community." Marcela Restrepo, 2020
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Executive summary
This case study focuses on the impact the Luker Foundation[1] has made in education and entrepreneurship in Colombia. The case illustrates Luker’s successes in strategically engaging local stakeholder groups as a collaborative approach to development. This case study is based on textual analysis of online documents, artifacts, and social media sites along with in-depth interviews and focus groups with key members of the Luker Foundation. The primary purpose of this case study is to generate in-depth understanding of the Luker Foundation and its full operating context in terms of key programs, policies, and organizational strategies to generate grounded knowledge that can inform mission, policy and program development, and professional practice, as well as civil and community action.
The Luker Foundation currently focuses its work in two main areas: education and entrepreneurship, while continuing to support the social improvement work it has provided since 1994 to multiple institutions in Manizales through dedicated projects. The goal is to make Manizales an example of a sustainable and inclusive society. Once the Foundation moved away from charity to more strategic and structural issues in education, they could not find NGOs in the city with the necessary skills for implementation without Foundation support. Thus, without strong organizations to work through, the members of the Luker Foundation decided to lead the change they wanted to see by taking on an active and central role in delivering a new pedagogical model within the public schools of Manizales.
Today, the Luker Foundation has three main education programs that are each designed to solve key problems in education. In the Escuela Activa Urbana (Active Urban School) program, the Luker Foundation partners with schools that use effective teaching methods to encourage active participation and collaboration in support of socio-emotional development. Second, the Aprende (Learn) program focuses on identifying, implementing, and evaluating educational programs for elementary-school pupils who are struggling academically, particularly in reading and mathematics. Aprende includes professional development and support for teachers, designing and providing educational materials, academic tutoring, and parent seminars for improving children’s at-home learning. Another program, La Universidad en Tu Colegio (The University in Your School), helps high-school students who want to attend university but lack the financial resources to apply and enroll.
In 2006, the Luker Foundation formalized a commitment to extend its contribution to the community beyond education. Around the same time, Colombia was hit by a collapse in coffee prices on the international market whose effects were particularly harsh in Manizales. After a period of strategic thinking and planning, the Foundation launched a major entrepreneurship initiative in Manizales. Rather than working alone to push for entrepreneurial training, the Luker Foundation recruited allies and partners to help build a collective project together. Once a range of institutions interested in the economic welfare of the city had united behind the effort – including the Chamber of Commerce and the Municipality of Manizales, two national banks, and the local newspaper – five universities also joined in[2]. Then Manizales Mas Program was created as a new alliance to develop and improve the entrepreneurial ecosystem of Manizales.
The Luker Foundation believes that philanthropy without business support and acumen cannot successfully address long-term, large-scale societal issues. The success of the Luker Foundation can be attributed in part to the family’s deep roots in Manizales and the trust and credibility the family enjoys through its long-term relationships within the community. This example illustrates a counterpoint to the idea of parachute philanthropy, in which well-meaning individuals or organizations may want to do good in an area but lack the credibility, an understanding of local issues, and a holistic view on attitudes and cultural sensitivities. This is why so many interventions fail and so many resources are wasted. Luker’s work is a blueprint on how to carry out stakeholder-relevant philanthropy in ways that foster ecosystems for sustainable development.
[1] The philanthropic arm of Casa Luker. Casa Luker is one of the key players in Colombian cocoa production and its by-product export business.
[2] SUMA is a local consortium of 5 national, private, and local universities that share students, faculty, and other resources. The partners in SUMA include the University of Caldas, The Autonomous University of Manizales, the Catholic University, the National University of Columbia and the University of Manizales. The collective student population is approximately 25,000 students
The Luker Foundation currently focuses its work in two main areas: education and entrepreneurship, while continuing to support the social improvement work it has provided since 1994 to multiple institutions in Manizales through dedicated projects. The goal is to make Manizales an example of a sustainable and inclusive society. Once the Foundation moved away from charity to more strategic and structural issues in education, they could not find NGOs in the city with the necessary skills for implementation without Foundation support. Thus, without strong organizations to work through, the members of the Luker Foundation decided to lead the change they wanted to see by taking on an active and central role in delivering a new pedagogical model within the public schools of Manizales.
Today, the Luker Foundation has three main education programs that are each designed to solve key problems in education. In the Escuela Activa Urbana (Active Urban School) program, the Luker Foundation partners with schools that use effective teaching methods to encourage active participation and collaboration in support of socio-emotional development. Second, the Aprende (Learn) program focuses on identifying, implementing, and evaluating educational programs for elementary-school pupils who are struggling academically, particularly in reading and mathematics. Aprende includes professional development and support for teachers, designing and providing educational materials, academic tutoring, and parent seminars for improving children’s at-home learning. Another program, La Universidad en Tu Colegio (The University in Your School), helps high-school students who want to attend university but lack the financial resources to apply and enroll.
In 2006, the Luker Foundation formalized a commitment to extend its contribution to the community beyond education. Around the same time, Colombia was hit by a collapse in coffee prices on the international market whose effects were particularly harsh in Manizales. After a period of strategic thinking and planning, the Foundation launched a major entrepreneurship initiative in Manizales. Rather than working alone to push for entrepreneurial training, the Luker Foundation recruited allies and partners to help build a collective project together. Once a range of institutions interested in the economic welfare of the city had united behind the effort – including the Chamber of Commerce and the Municipality of Manizales, two national banks, and the local newspaper – five universities also joined in[2]. Then Manizales Mas Program was created as a new alliance to develop and improve the entrepreneurial ecosystem of Manizales.
The Luker Foundation believes that philanthropy without business support and acumen cannot successfully address long-term, large-scale societal issues. The success of the Luker Foundation can be attributed in part to the family’s deep roots in Manizales and the trust and credibility the family enjoys through its long-term relationships within the community. This example illustrates a counterpoint to the idea of parachute philanthropy, in which well-meaning individuals or organizations may want to do good in an area but lack the credibility, an understanding of local issues, and a holistic view on attitudes and cultural sensitivities. This is why so many interventions fail and so many resources are wasted. Luker’s work is a blueprint on how to carry out stakeholder-relevant philanthropy in ways that foster ecosystems for sustainable development.
[1] The philanthropic arm of Casa Luker. Casa Luker is one of the key players in Colombian cocoa production and its by-product export business.
[2] SUMA is a local consortium of 5 national, private, and local universities that share students, faculty, and other resources. The partners in SUMA include the University of Caldas, The Autonomous University of Manizales, the Catholic University, the National University of Columbia and the University of Manizales. The collective student population is approximately 25,000 students