Audry Rueda, English teacher at Fundación Pies Descalzos La Playa school in Barranquilla, was selected by the British Council for an immersion in the United Kingdom thanks to her innovative project Soy Joven, which promotes the learning of English through critical thinking and student participation.
Audry Rueda, English teacher at Fundación Pies Descalzos La Playa school in Barranquilla, was selected as one of the ten teachers from the official sector who participated in a pedagogical immersion in the United Kingdom, thanks to her project "Soy Joven: Político, Bilingüe y Digital" (I am Young: Political, Bilingual and Digital). The initiative seeks to strengthen the learning of English from critical thinking, civic participation and digital skills of high school and middle school students.
This experience is part of the Barranquilla Bilingüe program, led by the District Mayor's Office of Barranquilla and the British Council, which promotes professional development for teachers and educational innovation in the public sector.
Since 2022, Audry and her colleagues, Julieth Herrera and Gloria García, have been leading Soy Joven, a pioneering project inspired by Project Based Learning (PBL) and promoted by the Model United Nations (MUN). The program integrates bilingual debates, analysis of global issues and creation of digital content in English, turning the language into a tool for active citizenship and youth leadership.
Through strategies such as Flipped Classroom, the use of technological tools (Microsoft Teams, Padlet, Canva, ChatGPT and Genially) and the implementation of MUNPIDES (Model United Nations of the Pies Descalzos Foundation School), students strengthen their communication skills and develop critical thinking from school.
"It is very gratifying to see how the work we have done has this recognition," says Audry. "This opportunity motivates us to continue innovating and to scale the project to reach more public schools in Barranquilla."
From October 4-19, 2025, Audry traveled with nine other teachers to Norwich Institute for Language Education (NILE) for training focused on active methodologies, student-centered strategies and teacher updating. They will also participate in cultural exchanges, academic visits and language immersion activities in real-life contexts.
"When I received the official communication I could not believe it. It is a great responsibility, but also an immense opportunity to continue learning and to represent my school and my city," says the teacher.
With more than 17 years of teaching experience, 15 of which have been dedicated to the school Fundación Pies Descalzos La Playa, Audry has witnessed the impact of an education connected to the needs of the territory.
Soy Joven not only strengthens English proficiency, but also acts as a seedbed for student leadership, where young people from higher grades accompany the younger ones, multiplying learning and motivation to learn. "My students were very happy. They told me to take them in my suitcase," Audry recalls with a laugh.
This recognition exalts the work of a committed teacher and reaffirms the commitment of the school Fundación Pies Descalzos - La Playa to a quality, relevant and innovative public education that provides real opportunities so that no child is left behind. 💛
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