With the ILO on a clear learning path: Julián Arango and his dream of changing the world through systems engineering and technology
At just 16, thanks to the technical training provided by the SENATIC project supported by the ILO, he has discovered a vocation that fills him with hope for the future.
20 June 2025
From the warm heart of Caquetá between memories of a town striving to recover peace and the dreams of a determined young man Julián Andrés Arango Quintero is steadily pursuing his goal of becoming a systems engineer.
Desde el cálido corazón del Caquetá, entre memorias de un pueblo que lucha por recuperar la paz y los sueños de un joven que no se rinde, Julián Andrés Arango Quintero camina con decisión hacia su meta: convertirse en ingeniero de sistemas.
Julián Andrés Arango Quintero was born 16 years ago in El Paujil, a small town in Caquetá where the sweltering heat and simplicity of life shaped his early years. He lived there with his aunt, a hardworking shopkeeper who faced difficult times due to extortion by armed groups. Now living in Florencia the departmental capital where he moved eight years ago Julián still cherishes the peaceful days that once defined his hometown.
Though he cried when he first started school, Julián eventually found in secondary education a reason to stay: a love of learning. He is currently in grade 11 at Juan Bautista Migani Educational Institution and complements his academic studies with technical training in Teleinformatics Systems part of the SENATIC project, a joint initiative by the Ministry of ICT, SENA and the ILO. He is now in the productive phase of his training, where he has deepened his knowledge and discovered that technology is not only a passion but also a skill. “Every time I research something new on my computer, I feel closer to what I want to become.”
Since childhood, technology has fascinated him though he didn’t always realise how much it would come to mean in his life. Today, he is certain that he wants to study Systems Engineering, and he recognises that this path is giving him tools not just for the world of work, but also for personal growth. “SENATIC is not just preparing me to work it’s teaching me values and encouraging me to keep going,” he says.
In addition to his passion for tech, Julián is an active teenager: he plays football and goes to the gym regularly. He believes adolescence is a time for learning, not for wasting time. That’s why he advises his peers not to give up, even when the journey feels tough. “You have to know you’re building the foundations of your future.”
He also raises a critical concern: the technological equipment at his school like at many others of the same level is outdated and limits the scope of learning. Julián hopes that the authorities will hear his voice so that more young people like him can have access to quality tools to move forward.
Like the Orteguaza River, which flows through the Amazon region and merges with the great Caquetá River, this confluence reflects the vision of a country connected by hope. Julián flows forward with strength, carrying the desire to grow, to contribute and to build a better tomorrow powered by passion, talent and knowledge.
