In Nueva Venecia, a floating village in Colombia, the pursuit of education is deeply intertwined with the daily struggle for basic necessities. At the local school, children from Sixth B gather even on days without formal classes. According to Franklin, a dedicated teacher, these students often come seeking not just knowledge, but also a reliable meal provided by the School Food Program (PAE). “If the bare has what to eat, with what force will come here?” he remarked, watching his students brighten the old wooden walls with fresh paint.

However, the rhythms of fishing heavily influence school attendance. Many children join their parents on fishing expeditions that can last for days, leading to prolonged absences. The economic imperative is clear: “if they fish together, father and son, they shoudl not distribute the profits with anyone else.” In the Salado dry, where families rely on sun-dried, salted fish for their livelihood, every peso counts. The community’s precariousness often compels teachers to pool their resources to support their students. Franklin recounted,”Sometimes we do the cow,we collaborate. We recently sent a girl who had a painful pain; the mother came here with us, we collaborated between everyone and we sent her to get the tooth in Sitionuevo.”

Beyond these challenges, approximately 300 of Nueva Venecia’s 1,000 residents are not enrolled in the educational system, largely due to inadequate infrastructure. In neighboring Buenavista, the situation is further complicated by the absence of a high school, compelling students to travel to New Venice for further education. The school, along with the court donated by Radamel Falcao, serves as vital community hubs in a region where homes are isolated and transportation relies on canoes.

The construction of the new San José Departmental Educational Institution of Nueva Venecia has been significantly delayed. Originally slated for completion in May 2024, the project is onyl 30.36 % complete physically and 25.19 % financially, despite an 8,821 million pesos contract signed in 2023. Multiple suspensions, stemming from issues such as community occupation, criminal activity, environmental permits, and logistical challenges, have stalled progress. The updated timeline now projects completion of phase 1 by October 2025 and phase 2 by January 2026, contingent on improved security and other factors.

Outside the school, basic services remain unreliable. Isaac, a water distributor for 43 years, exemplifies the struggle to secure potable water, as the community cannot depend solely on purchased bags or bottles. A “water farm,” installed near the police station in 2024 with 2.2 billion pesos from the general royalty system, is now defunct. This initiative, intended to treat water with solar radiation, has fallen into disuse, according to residents.

Despite investments of approximately 14,500 million pesos in drinking water, renewable energy, tourism, and governance projects in Palafitos villages, many needs remain unmet. Healthcare services are limited, with nurses available at the corregimiento position (though not 24/7) and a doctor visiting three times a week. Medical emergencies frequently enough require transport by canoe to Sitionuevo or Barranquilla. Amidst these challenges,community-driven solutions emerge,such as a local woman cultivating medicinal plants like “tañabotija,” grapefruit,oregano,and lily to share with her neighbors.

Electricity, provided via submarine cables from Salamina, is frequently disrupted when the cables become entangled in boat engines. Repairs are typically handled by local youths, with affected families contributing between 5,000 and 10,000 pesos to compensate them.

The Magdalena governorate acknowledged that the current state of basic public services in the district “represents a structural problem that requires priority attention” and necessitates coordinated efforts among territorial entities. However, recent decisions by the State Council have annulled the elections of both the mayor of Sitionuevo and the governor Rafael Alejandro Martínez, further complicating the governance and management of essential services.

The educational landscape of Nueva Venecia is shaped by unique geographical and socioeconomic factors. The community’s reliance on fishing, coupled with infrastructure deficits, creates significant obstacles to consistent school attendance and overall educational attainment.

Access to essential services such as clean water,reliable electricity,and adequate healthcare remains a persistent challenge for the residents of Nueva Venecia. Community-driven initiatives and local remedies frequently enough serve as crucial supplements to limited external support.