YOUNG PEOPLE IN COMMAND!

Imagine a classroom full of students, not only learning math or history, but also how to protect their community’s resources, monitor the use of public funds, and build a culture of transparency from a young age. This isn’t a utopia; ¡it’s a reality in Bogotá and throughout Colombia!

Through the Student Comptrollers initiative, the seeds of a generation committed to ethics and the fight against corruption are being sown in the Colombian capital. And at the heart of this educational revolution is Julián Mauricio Ruiz, the Comptroller of Bogotá, a leader who has championed empowering young people as guardians of public affairs.

What are Student Comptrollers?

In Colombia, the position of Student Comptroller is not just an honorary title, but an active role that allows students from public and private schools to participate in the oversight of their institutions’ resources. Created in Bogotá in 2009 and reinforced nationally by Law 2195 of 2022, this initiative seeks to empower young people to oversee public goods, from their schools’ budgets to government-run school feeding programs (SFPs).

But it’s not just about oversight; it’s a pedagogical exercise that combines leadership, democracy, and social responsibility, all wrapped up in a dynamic that makes students feel part of something bigger.

Each year, schools democratically elect their student comptrollers, who work closely with the Bogotá Comptroller’s Office, the Ministry of Education, and the District Institute for Community Participation and Action (IDPAC). In 2025, for example, 412 young people in Bogotá took an oath, pledging to care for their schools’ resources and promote values such as transparency and environmental stewardship.

The Social Playfulness of Learning – Transforming

What makes this initiative special is its focus on social play. Instead of boring lectures on ethics, students participate in practical and creative activities that connect them with their community. For example, the District Network of Student Comptrollers, made up of a representative from each Bogotá district, organizes thematic committees that address everything from water conservation to waste prevention in the School Feeding Program. These committees not only analyze problems but also propose concrete solutions, such as recycling campaigns or strategies to prevent the use of psychoactive substances.

It’s an approach where students learn to be active citizens while having fun, debating, and networking. Through these exercises, students become empowered in educational institutions as actors who contribute to transformations in their contexts. This isn’t just a school exercise; it’s a way to teach young people that they have the power to change their environment.

Julián Ruiz: The Engine of Youth Transparency

At the center of this movement in Bogotá is Julián Mauricio Ruiz, the city’s comptroller, whose vision has been key to strengthening the initiative. Ruiz has not only promoted the inauguration of hundreds of student comptrollers each year, but has also insisted that these young people are fundamental allies in building a more transparent city. “You are the ones who will strengthen democracy,” he told the 412 new comptrollers in 2024, highlighting their role in overseeing resources and generating a culture of caring for public affairs.

Ruiz has taken this mission beyond the classroom. Under her leadership, the Bogotá Comptroller’s Office has received detailed reports from student comptrollers, addressing critical issues such as school infrastructure, safety, and the environment. These reports are not simple homework assignments; they are real input that guides the Comptroller’s Office’s audits, demonstrating that young people not only learn, but also directly impact public management.

Furthermore, Ruiz has called on students to extend their commitment beyond the schools. “Our invitation is to be significant by being observers of public affairs in all spheres: family, community, and professional,” he stated at a recent ceremony. His message is clear: the fight against corruption is not just for adults; it is a legacy that young people are inheriting and transforming.

From Bogotá to the world

For an international audience, where citizen participation and civic education are pillars of many democracies, the experience of student comptrollers in Colombia may sound inspiring.

In Colombia, a country that has faced historical challenges with corruption, this initiative demonstrates that education can be a powerful tool for changing mentalities. It’s not just about monitoring money, but about developing ethical citizens who understand the value of public services from an early age.

In 2024, the District Network of Student Comptrollers worked on committees addressing everything from school safety to sex education, demonstrating how young people can lead on complex social issues. This practical approach, combined with the guidance of leaders like Julián Ruiz, transforms students into agents of change who don’t just critique, but propose and act.

A more transparent future

The student comptrollers’ initiative is a commitment to the future. In a world where distrust in institutions is a global problem, Colombia—through Bogotá—is showing that educating new generations in ethical values and oversight of public affairs can be a powerful solution.

Thanks to leaders like Julián Mauricio Ruiz and the enthusiasm of thousands of students, Colombians are building a stronger democracy, one school at a time.

So, the next time you think about how to combat corruption, remember these young Colombians who, with notebooks, ideas, and a little creativity, are making a difference. Isn’t that a lesson we can all learn?