Adriana Velásquez grew up outside of the capital city of Colombia. Her mother and father were both heavily involved in the health sector. Watching her family devote themselves to public service inspired Adriana to pursue a similar path serving others through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

As the Sports, Education, and Cultural Advisor, Adriana was responsible for implementing a governmental program called the “Borders for Prosperity Plan.” Adriana traveled all over the country to work in local townships creating formal sports programs for broader issues, which include extreme poverty, lack of educational opportunities, gang violence, and teenage pregnancy. “As you can guess, women and girls are most susceptible to these issues, and, as a result, many find themselves dropping out of school at an early age.”

Adriana is very committed to making a difference in the lives of women and girls in the border regions. She sees sport as a valuable way to teach self-confidence as well as an incentive to continue pursuing education.