Music scholarships Juan Camilo Arrubla

What we do

SMILE was created in 2009 by Edwin Amaya and a group of young professionals inspired by his purpose of bringing education opportunities to underprivileged children. Since then, the foundation has impacted over 20,000 people in 19 communities and enabled access to better education for at least 2,700 children. In 2018 we jointly supported a 52 week-long music program overseen by Mercedes Arrubla, mother of Juan Camilo Arroyave Arrubla, after whom the program was named and who passed away at age 16 after helping numerous children learn music in Colombia and Brazil. Eight children ages 6 to 18 benefited from a music scholarship that covered tuition fees, transportation, snacks, money to make copies of scores and necessary elements for the care and maintenance of the musical instruments.