Since 2011, the Construya project, financed by the Hilti Foundation, among other donors, and implemented by Swisscontact, has promoted safe and sustainable construction in poor neighbourhoods in Colombia. During the Covid-19 crisis, construction workers and hardware merchants did not have great facilities to access 100% virtual and interactive training. The project developed an e-learning offer taking into account the participants' previous learnings and experience in construction. The tool introduces key concepts during the tour of the virtual platform and uses technology that allows simple and intuitive navigation through the site suitable for any mobile device.
The virtual resources are currently being adapted for the platforms of the different project partners (Cemex, Cementos Alión, Home Center, among others). The technical and entrepreneurship courses include modules on safety and stairs, lighting and ventilation as well as marketing and financing, among other things.
The lessons learned from the design of these virtual resources were manifold. Among them, the following stand out:
The Construya project is financed by Hilti Foundation, among other donors. As part of the Swisscontact Development Programme, it is co-financed by SDC (Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA).