The final week of our Leadership in Action (LIA) project in Medellín was a whirlwind of emotions, celebrations, and farewells, culminating in three major showcases by each project team. As the end of our journey together approached, the reality of saying goodbye began to sink in. But before those goodbyes, there was still important work to be done, and each team delivered on their projects with incredible creativity and passion.

The Showcases

Casa Tres Patios

The week kicked off with a fantastic showcase from the Casa Tres Patios (C3P) team, led by Kayla, Anann, and Raven. Their project centred around identifying sustainable funding sources for the organization, and they devised a walking tour that could both generate income and align with C3P’s mission. The tour, piloted with our group, highlighted a diverse array of areas in Medellín—from the historic centre that was once a textile hub, to a landmark cathedral, and then to a bustling flea market. What stood out to me was how the tour offered a unique perspective of Medellín, blending the city’s vibrant culture with its complex history. The showcase wrapped up with a sensory workshop led by C3P’s staff, encouraging us to reflect on Medellín through the lens of its nature, people, food, and music. The project holds a lot of promise, and I’m excited to see how it develops beyond our time here.

Picacho Con Futuro

Next up was the showcase from the Picacho con Futuro team—Oliver, Ottilia, and Rachel—who dedicated their project to sustainability education for the children in Picacho. Throughout the six weeks, they poured so much energy into workshops and even organized a full field trip, so it was no surprise that their final showcase was both creative and lively. The event was a beautiful mix of art, craft, and education. The kids built bridges out of recycled materials, drawing on their newfound understanding of sustainability. I got involved by helping with a drawing activity, which was based on the theme of protecting the environment. I even contributed my own “Save the Trees” artwork! The children’s joy and connection with the scholars were palpable, making it a heartwarming experience to witness.

Sueños y Huellas

Finally, our team—Michelle, Echo, and I—had our showcase for Sueños y Huellas. The bulk of the praise for this project belongs to Michelle and Echo; they were absolutely phenomenal, and I’m grateful to call them both teammates and friends. Our showcase had two components: one focused on direct engagement with the kids, facilitated by amazing volunteers from the Universidad Pontificia Bolivaria, and the other centred around a livestream event aimed at exploring a new potential funding stream for the organization. The kids’ activities ranged from making snacks to a chaotic science experiment with oobleck (if you haven't been around 15 kids and a flour paste concoction before let me tell you it makes an insane mess).

The livestream reached 91 viewers and gained 3 new subscribers for Sueños. While those numbers might seem small, they exceeded our expectations, considering we had little time to market the event prior and it was an initial test pilot Overall, I’m really proud of what we managed to pull off in such a short period.

Wrapping Up My Experience

As our final days together approached, emotions ran high. We capped off the week with a farewell dinner, joined by the make_sense team, the organizations we worked with, and the volunteers from UPB. Each group gave a short presentation on their projects, and we had a chance to share our highlights and reflections.

Beyond that, we squeezed in some last-minute shopping, got saved from rogue Lizard attacks (this is me being dramatic), packed our bags, and had a final informal meal together, complete with a mini awards ceremony. I was honoured to receive the “Next J Balvin” award for bringing the best music to the party—it couldn't be a more in-character ending of our trip.

What truly made this experience unforgettable were the people. The other scholars, the friends we made in Medellín, and the community we built together are what I’ll carry with me the most. As I write this, still in Medellín but now solo, the city feels different—no less vibrant, but certainly more reflective. I’m filled with gratitude for the journey we shared, even if it’s bittersweet to see it come to an end. I’ll cherish these memories and look forward to staying connected with everyone who was part of this adventure.

Gracias por cada risa, cada momento y cada aprendizaje compartido. Este no es un adiós, sino un hasta luego.