An initiative seeks to teach hundreds of children the importance of protecting their skin from sun exposure.

Globally, the dermatological company Isdin has been raising awareness about the importance of sun protection from childhood for over a decade through various initiatives. In Colombia, in collaboration with the Colombian League Against Cancer, this year they launched a project that seeks to educate through fun talks aimed at elementary school children, convinced that prevention begins with information.

To date, educational talks have been held in four schools and the company has participated in ten school bazaars, impacting more than 700 children. "Our goal for this first year is to reach 20,000 children, creating a more aware, protected, and empowered generation in the sun," says Isdin.

And right in the middle of the holiday season, when sun exposure is on the rise and prevention isn't yet a common practice, Isdin and the Colombian League Against Cancer have already begun to see the results of a revolution they launched this year in classrooms across the country.

“Our main objective is to sow a seed of awareness in future generations. We want to make sun protection a daily habit. We educate so that a child today isn't a patient tomorrow. That's our commitment to the country,” says Monica Romero, Marketing Manager at ISDIN.

The campaign, which has a start date but no end date, as the goal is to implement it in as many schools and educational centers as possible, includes awareness-raising sessions, interactive educational modules, and an innovative digital platform for teachers, providing them with pedagogical and scientific tools to teach skin care in the classroom.

"Although this is our first edition in Colombia, it has no closing date. Our commitment is long-term: to educate, raise awareness, and actively contribute to reducing skin cancer cases in the country. This is a seed we will continue to cultivate year after year," the company stated.

Furthermore, the alliance with the Colombian League Against Cancer reinforces the medical legitimacy and social reach of this campaign . According to recent figures from the League, skin cancer is one of the most common cancers in Colombia, and its incidence has been quietly increasing in recent years, especially in regions with high solar radiation. Although diagnoses in childhood are not yet widespread, experts warn about the cumulative damage from early ages.

"The lack of education and prevention in schools is a risk factor that we must address at its root. This campaign responds to that critical need," says Dr. Wilson Cubides, executive director of the Colombian League Against Cancer.

From scientific evidence to pedagogy, this strategy is comprehensive. The digital platform for teachers not only offers updated content validated by dermatologists, but also practical resources such as guides, activities, and teaching materials that facilitate its implementation at any educational level.

In addition to its educational focus, the campaign has a national reach in the medium and long term. Isdin is already working on partnerships with government entities to institutionalize the teaching of sun protection in the school curriculum. "We dream of this becoming public policy. That education about skin health becomes a basic right, not a privilege," the company explains.

The impact is already tangible: parents are reporting a change in their children's habits, teachers are empowered with new resources, and children are integrating sun protection into their daily routines.

Environment and Health Journalist