Grupo Argos Foundation scholarship program celebrates 10 years. More than 300 young people have benefited

• The first cohort of the Territorial Development Scholarship Program began in 2014 with 24 students, of whom 95% are currently employed. At present, the employability rate of young people who are part of this initiative has risen to 83%.
• In addition to the financial support that amounts to up to 10.5 minimum wages for tuition expenses and up to 3.7 minimum wages for their maintenance, during their educational process the young people receive comprehensive and personalized support with the goal of facilitating their transition and adaptation to the university environment.
• Currently, 151 young people are pursuing their degrees at the country’s top universities, while more than 130 have already completed their studies. 83% of them have already entered the labor market, 14% continued to enhance their careers with postgraduate studies, and 8 have joined the human team of Grupo Argos, Cementos Argos, Celsia, Odinsa, and Summa.
• With more than COP 10 billion invested in this program, the Argos Group Foundation continues to consolidate its leadership among the corporate foundations of Colombia.

As part of the celebration of the tenth anniversary of its higher education scholarship program, Grupo Argos Foundation launched a new cohort with 30 new high school graduates from 15 departments of Colombia, who from now on will begin to receive financial support to pursue their professional studies at the best universities in the country.

“As part of the celebration of the tenth anniversary of its higher education scholarship program, the Argos Group Foundation launched a new cohort with 30 new high school graduates from 15 departments of Colombia, who from now on will begin to receive financial support to pursue their professional studies at the best universities in the country.”

Maria Camila Villegas Executive Director Grupo Argos Foundation

The program provides support of up to 10.5 minimum wages for tuition expenses and an additional 3.7 minimum wages for maintenance, as in most cases, students need to travel to major cities to begin their professional studies. Likewise, during their study period, the scholars receive comprehensive and personalized support from the Argos Group Foundation to facilitate their transition and adaptation.

Significant figures attest to the success of this program in its first 10 years.

With the Regional Development Scholarship Program, Grupo Argos Foundation materializes its commitment to creating opportunities for the country’s youth and to driving sustainable transformation of territories through education. Since 2014, this program has recognized the efforts of more than 300 young leaders in their communities among strata 1 and 2 in areas where Grupo Argos, Cementos Argos, Celsia, and Odinsa have a presence.

Key outcomes of this program over the last decade include:

• Consolidation of partnerships with various organizations and universities, benefiting an additional 350 young people with scholarships for technical and technological careers in regions like the Southwest and Urabá in Antioquia and the island of Barú, in Bolívar.
• 18 scholarship recipients completed their work placements at companies of the Argos Business Group, and 8 more are linked to the teams of Grupo Argos, Celsia, Odinsa, and Summa.
• Grupo Argos Foundation’s consolidated investment in this program amounts to over COP 10 billion in the last 10 years.
• Currently, the employability rate of young people who are part of this initiative is 83%.
• The program’s retention rate is 92%.