MEET OUR TEAM
The Children Change Colombia team is based in the UK and Colombia
See our organisational chart to find out more about our team.
Ángela Carreño
Executive Director
Originally from Bogotá, Ángela has worked for 15 years in the international development sector across the three continents of the Global South. She has been the Executive Director of CCC since 2020. She has also worked for the UN, Plan International, and the Colombian government, as well as on research projects with IDEAs India and the Council of Latin American Social Studies (CLACSO). After working in numerous countries around the world, she is thrilled that her work is now helping the children of her homeland. Ángela has a Master’s in International Affairs, and Bachelor’s degrees in Social Communication and Political Sciences. As well as her native Spanish, she is fluent in English, French and Portuguese.
Email: [email protected]
Liliana Rodríguez
Programmes Manager
Liliana is an engineer with more than 8 years of experience in planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of social investment projects especially with indigenous communities. She has extensive experience in complex contexts and multidisciplinary and inter-ethnic working groups.
In her role as MEAL officer at Children Change Colombia, she works hand in hand with our partners in Colombia to make things happen and contribute to building a country where all children have a safe space to develop and build their own dreams.
Victoria Armfield
Finance Manager
Victoria joined Children Change Colombia in July 2020 with over 10 years’ experience in financial management roles within the Not For Profit sector. She holds a degree in Mathematics, an accounting qualification with the Chartered Institute of Management Accounting and a broad range of skills in charity and project management. Victoria is passionate about supporting causes based on international humanitarian development, and for this reason, she chose a career in which she can contribute to these areas. Some of the organisations she has worked for are: Child Rescue Nepal, Minority Rights Group International and the European Human Rights Advocacy Centre. Victoria hopes to help improve the lives of Colombian children and adolescents, as well as being able to immerse herself in the vibrant culture and language of a country like Colombia.
Email: [email protected]
Carol Betancourt
Fundraising Coordinator
Carol is a professional in International Relations with a wide interest in International Development, cooperation and social transformation focused on the SDG specifically those oriented to no poverty, reduced inequalities and gender equality. Issues like child protection, social justice and human rights have been at the center of her professional experience as she has worked in both NGO’s and private entities dedicated to support children and the youth in Colombia, France and Turkey. Carol has a masters in International Development, Innovation, Participation and Sustainability. She’s certified in Project Management and speak Spanish, English and French.
Email: [email protected]
Wilson Herazo
Psychologist
Originally from Santa Marta, Wilson is a psychologist who has worked on social intervention projects, supporting children, young people and adults. The initiatives seek to empower people in their territories, thus generating an impact within their land. He is in charge of providing clinical, social and community support, and has worked in the Secretariat Diocesan of Social Pastoral. As Coordinator of the “Young Peace Builders” project in Taganga, he developed his profession as a clinical psychologist in two IPS in the city supporting children and young people with special cognitive needs. In addition, he coordinated the project “Life Centers for the Elderly” where he was a psychologist and in charge of health personnel. In 2023, he joined the CCC team to support the project “Education for Change and Innovation in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta” with the motivation of supporting and serving his territory.
Carolina Takegami
Coordinator of pedagogical processes
Carolina has over 10 years of experience in alternative education, working as a science and mathematics teacher combined with art and exploration in primary and secondaries schools in Magdalena. She has participated in the execution of projects with ethnic minorities in peripheral and highly vulnerable territories in Colombia, on issues related to agroecology, management and work in the transformation of raw materials in the departments of Nariño, Putumayo and Caquetá. Carolina is passionate about educational changes and is committed to comprehensive education in the formation of happy and healthy children and young people who are empowered to contribute to the improvement of society and the environment.
Lucie Prior
Language Volunteer Coordinator
For the past 14 years, Lucie has worked in education all around the world (Italy, Australia, Thailand and Costa Rica…). Most recently she has worked in an international language school as academic and pedagogic coordinator in Colombia and has now settled back in London where she is currently working as a Head of language department. She is currently supporting the bilingualism activities of CCC education projects. Lucie has a BA Hons in Literature and cultures and a Post Graduate Certificate of Education in Modern Foreign Languages. She is passionate about Culture, Literature and travels.
” Nothing is worth more than laughter.” from Frida Kahlo is her mantra to live by.
Nick Rennie
IT Volunteer
Email: [email protected]
Juan Pablo Hernández
Communications and Fundraising Manager
Email: [email protected]
Victoria Cornelio
Communications Officer
Vic first interned with Children Change Colombia in the Summer of 2022 and is now joining the team as a Communications Officer after completing her undergraduate in Politics and International Relations. She is also pursuing a master’s degree in the socio-political dimensions of climate change. Vic has worked in her home country supporting children and their families, has been involved in climate action and nature protection around ecotourism, and has experience in content creation and research. She has been living in the UK since 2019 and has experience supporting local communities through working with children at risk of exploitation and running volunteering programmes in the city.
She hopes to use her experience and passion for helping children to promote CCC’s goals and expand the organisation’s presence to a wider audience in order to connect with more people interested in the causes CCC’s focused on.
Email: [email protected]
Megan Short
Communications and Fundraising Intern
Megan holds a bachelor’s degree in Chinese and Spanish. Her studies focused on the colonial legacies that exist in global development, and their impact in Latin American countries. Having spent time in Colombia, she has learnt a lot about the impact of the armed conflict, which inspired her to get involved with Children Change Colombia. She is passionate about fighting for social justice and equality and is excited to use her marketing experience to expand the reach of the important work carried out by CCC.
Email: [email protected]
Maile McFarland
Outreach Intern
Email: [email protected]
Natalie Calderon
Fundraising and Programmes Intern
Email: [email protected]
María Mónica Gutiérrez
Main Facilitator & Coordinator of Colombia Colores
María Mónica Gutiérrez is a Colombian, London-based singer-songwriter and social worker, who has traveled a thirteen-years trajectory with her bands Suricato and Ságan and with her solo project, Montañera. She has performed her music in more than 300 concerts across 8 countries, has released 9 albums, and is a Marca Colombia Artist.
She holds a Masters in Music and Development from SOAS, University of London, as a Chevening Scholar, granted by the UK’s Commonwealth Office. She currently leads several projects around music and wellbeing, with particular interest in the power of music to help others.
Laura Rondón
Monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning (MEAL) officer 'Colombia Colores'
Laura has a strong commitment to bridging the gap between governments and citizens. Her professional focus is on promoting open government, empowering citizen participation, and utilizing technology to strengthen governance. She has successfully implemented MEAL frameworks in policy projects to improve access to public information, tackle corruption, create opportunities for youth and protect their rights, among others. Laura holds a Master’s of Public Administration (MPA) in Innovation, Public Policy, and Public Value. Originally from Bogotá, Laura is thrilled to work on projects that can bring joy and purpose to Colombian children.
Yvonne Velásquez
Outreach Coordinator ‘Colombia Colores’ and Volunteer
Yvonne is a Spanish Language and Communications Consultant, qualified translator and interpreter, editor, researcher, and Spanish Lecturer with over 20 years experience in the commercial, diplomatic, NGO and public services sectors. She is also an Events Coordinator promoting Colombian and Latin American culture to the British audiences.
She is currently the Outreach Coordinator of the project ‘Colombia Colores’, bringing along with her the extensive community experience she gained working for the Colombian Consulate. For over 2 decades she has been a dedicated volunteer and supporter of CCC, advocating passionately for children’s rights and working tirelessly in the development of campaigns to attract strategic alliances and community networks as well as in the creation of events to raise awareness and funds within the Latin American public in the UK and afar. She holds a BA in Modern Languages, Master’s degrees in Hispanic Studies and Conference Interpreting and Diplomas in Public Relations, Marketing and International Trade.
Her mantra: She strongly believes that ‘empowered CHILDREN can really CHANGE
COLOMBIA’.
Maria del Pilar Paz Gonzalez
Teacher Assitant 'Colombia Colores'
María del Pilar is a professional in Environmental Management, with a particular passion in research and sectorial policies in Environment, especially Water and Climate Change, in the framework of the SDG 2030. She has participated in Environmental Education projects in educational institutions and NGOs with the scholarship for black communities in Colombia, and other related ones in Spain. She has a Master’s degree in Government and Public Administration with the Complutense University of Madrid and is Founder of AfrocolUK.
She lives in London and is part of the Colombia Colores project as an Teacher Assistant. She is an Afrocolombian who also teaches about cultural traditions and feels joy at the seed that the children of the Diaspora, future ambassadors of Colombia, receive through this program.
Mantra: If I knew the world would end tomorrow, even today I would plant a tree. MLK
Patricia Montenegro Riveros
Pedagogical Coordinator for peace and education for children and adolescents
Patricia´s path crossed with CCC last year in London. She joined the volunteer team, sharing her experience, creativity and energy. She is a psychologist with a master´s degree in Social Intervention who has been working for more than 20 years in designing, implementing, evaluating, and leading educational, cultural, and social initiatives for children, families, communities, and victims of violence affected by war and migration in multicultural settings in Colombia.
She is also a passionate dancer who has participated in different companies, especially performing Colombian folkloric and popular dance. Her interest in exploring the connections between artistic expressions, movement, bodies and relationships with human lives, focusing on cultural, social, emotional and mental health aspects, had enriched her job.
