In dialogue with the manager of Welfare Facatativá

By: Felipe Sánchez – Communications Advisory Office

María Alejandra Bonilla Ramírez graduated in psychology from the Facatativá extension in 2017. She is currently the University Welfare Manager at the same extension, and her expertise working with communities with disabilities at the Secretariat of Social Development of Bogotá, as well as her experience as a speaker, workshop facilitator, and entrepreneur, has given her a clear vision of the importance of prioritizing the human being and their essence over "doing" and "having".

María Alejandra has also been an important animal activist, becoming the co-founder of the first cat shelter in the municipality of Facatativá, where she has managed to save more than 10,000 felines.

“Today I know for sure that having a multidisciplinary approach like the one offered by the UCundinamarca educational model, MEDIT, gives us a great advantage in the final result as professionals. I have been a hard-working woman and I know that helped me grow, but I am clear that the University makes a huge contribution with its humanistic approach,” the graduate stated.

In this way, and since 2019, María Alejandra has been part of the UCundinamarca work team in the Facatativá extension where she started in the psychosocial area of University Welfare, and then, in 2022, took charge of the Office as Coordinator.

“We have managed to strengthen the comprehensive training processes of the educational community through permanent collaboration with external entities, considering social interaction as a fundamental axis of personal growth,” Bonilla added.

Before achieving this latest and most recent step in her professional career, she had to overcome another challenge. “For me, like many others, the pandemic wasn't easy. It was a bit difficult to adapt a space to carry out my projects. I'm a single mother, and I had to be with my daughter all the time, since she's only 2 years old, and that made my work difficult in some way. It was quite a challenge,” commented María Alejandra.

What she is sure of, after achieving her personal and professional success, is that changes are always positive and must happen, while strengthening character and empathy, "that is what I want to maintain now in my work in University Welfare, that students have a place where they can build character, know their emotions and be aware of their thoughts.".

“Every step I have taken has helped me grow immensely and motivates me to achieve more every day. Therefore, I hope this story doesn't end soon and that I can do much more for my institution.”

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