OUR STORIES

When Catalina Pimienta Gómez joined Christel House in March as Founding CEO of Christel House Colombia, she took on the challenge of bringing the Christel House model to Colombia for the first time. Now, thanks in no small measure to her leadership, Christel House International and Fundación Santo Domingo (FSD) are on track to transition Colegio Barbacoas in Barú to the Christel House model starting in January 2027. “For me, this partnership is about human capital and social mobility,” said Pimienta Gómez. “Colombia has incredibly talented young people, but opportunity is still deeply unequal. Where a child is born can have far too much influence on the opportunities that child has later in life. Education has the power to change that.”

The Colombia partnership brings together FSD’s deep relationships, knowledge of the community, and broader development ecosystem with Christel House’s proven, holistic approach to helping students succeed through high-quality education, healthcare, social-emotional support, and clear pathways to higher education and careers. “We are arriving at a school that has 30 years of history, teachers who are committed, families who care about the education of their children, and a strong relationship with the community,” Pimienta Gómez said. “This is an enormous asset but also creates a big responsibility. Before we build classrooms, we need to build trust.” She has been listening and working closely with teachers, students, families, and community stakeholders in Barú to understand how the Christel House model can build upon the school’s strong foundation. The families she’s met, Pimienta Gómez says, have enormous aspirations for their children. “They do not want charity. They want opportunities, dignity, and, of course, a good education for their kids.”

Preparing for that transition draws on more than 16 years of leadership experience across the nonprofit, public, and private sectors. “Catalina is a talented and purpose-driven leader with a deep commitment to creating opportunities for children and families,” said David Harris, President and CEO of Christel House International. Most recently, Pimienta Gómez served as Executive and Strategic Director of Fundación Juanfe, where she led institutional strategy, fundraising, and expansion initiatives. Throughout her career, she has built cross-sector partnerships and advanced efforts to expand opportunities for underserved communities.

For Pimienta Gómez, the goal is to help young people create different life trajectories and enter adulthood with real opportunities. “As a CEO, my biggest hope is that five or 10 years from now, we are no longer talking only about what Christel House brought to Barbacoas and Colombia,” she said. “We will also be talking about what Colombia and Barbacoas are bringing to Christel House—and what Colombia can teach the rest of our global network.”