Catalina Escobar My choice of a CNN Hero

By Miguel Espinal

Within the last six years, 180 people have been profiled by CNN as a citizen honored for their contributions and given the title of hero. Chosen by over 45,000 nominations submitted through the Hero website created by CNN, in an attempt to honor and acknowledge the commitment people have made to make a difference in the world. After reading through the different articles, one person did stand out among all the nominated heroes. Catalina Escobar was nominated for her contributions and assistance to the teen mothers and their children in Cartagena, Columbia. She has spent the last decade volunteering at one of the largest maternity clinics in the city of Cartagena, focusing at lowering the infant mortality rate within the area. Catalina has assisted in building a neo-natal unit, has procured experts to train the staff, she has also created a program to help impoverished teen age mothers with medical costs. In her ongoing battle against poverty; Escobar has within the last five years at the clinic, help reduce the mortality rate of infants by 67%. Catalina is working with 70% of teen age mothers between the ages of 14 and 16 who mostly live in the slums outside of Cartagena, Columbia; reason being the population increasing due to violence in the northern area of the region. Escobar is trying to ensure the long term health and well-being of the young mothers and their children, while also trying to break the cycle of poverty. Cristinas hoping to change this through programs educating young mothers to support themselves and their families with education and skills needed to help them reach these goals.

With the opening of her foundation called the Juan Felipe Gomez Escobar Foundation, named after her 16 month old son, who died due to falling from a balcony at her home; she built a facility using her own money as well as donations, in the slums of Cartagena. The elegant modern structure is equipped with a day care center, medical care assistance, cafeteria and educational classrooms. To Escobar the point is to create a place so different and light years away from the impoverished world the young mothers are accustomed to; a place to go to school, care for their children and acquire a healthy and better future. Cristina Escobar has accomplished many things in the last ten years; yet she believes her war on povertys just beginning. Escobar is seeing progress with the young mothers, she is quoted as saying I wake up every morning thinking; What else can I do to help them? Cristina Escobar is a true hero to the teen age mothers of Cartagena, Columbia and has earned at least in my opinion the recognition; for her tireless efforts and amazing contributions in that part of the world.