SAMI In South America

This week, SAMI art kits traveled an incredible 3,200 miles from Los Angeles to the lush, mountainous region of Santa Marta, Colombia—carried with care and purpose by Brentwood School student Saraluna Ospina. Her journey was more than a simple delivery; it was an exchange of creativity, culture, and connection.

Saraluna brought the kits to children of the Arhuaco community, one of the Indigenous groups of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. The Arhuaco people are known for their deep spiritual philosophy, their harmonious relationship with nature, and their commitment to preserving ancestral wisdom. Often called the “Guardians of the Sierra,” they believe the mountains are the heart of the world, and their traditions reflect a profound respect for balance, reflection, and collective responsibility.

Meeting the Arhuaco children offered Saraluna a firsthand look at a culture where storytelling, symbolism, and artistry are woven into daily life. The SAMI kits, designed to encourage self-expression and imagination, became a bridge between worlds. As the children opened the bright packages, their faces lit up with curiosity and joy, transforming simple materials into tools of expression that resonated deeply with their own artistic traditions.

Saraluna’s journey is a reminder that creativity travels across borders, languages, and histories. By bringing SAMI art kits to Santa Marta, she not only shared art supplies, she honored the memory of a dearly missed friend and member of the Brentwood School community.

#samieverywhere