In Spanish, they call him the “Father of the Mountains,” and to many families in Latin America, Fairport native Mark Kaseman has become just that.
The 61-year-old has been living in Colombia since 2005, where he started a school to teach English to children and adults. His organization, Angeles de Medellin, has since touched the lives of thousands of families and volunteers from all over the world.
Kaseman says the journey came unexpectedly. He first traveled to South America in 2004 to tour the Amazon rainforest (the preservation of which continues to be one of his great passions).
The trip included a stop in the city of Medellin, located high in the mountains of Colombia. He immediately fell in love with the city, and after returning home, sold the printing and graphic design business he ran with his brother for 23 years and made plans to pick up and move.
It was a big decision, but as Kaseman says, “Sometimes we have to follow our dreams.”
He soon learned that the majority of the natives lived in poverty and were driven into the mountains by violence in the Colombian Civil War and drug-related conflict. As a result, the city was controlled by a militant group of guerillas.
After several months, Kaseman crossed paths with two American missionaries who were involved with a relief organization that distributed food, clothing and medical care to the poor. The outpouring of gratitude became the spark that inspired him to do more.
When children saw him coming, they ran to him with shouts of “Marcos! Marcos! Marcos!” Then the paramilitary told him and his partners to stop. The missionaries obeyed, but Kaseman was too determined to stay despite threats placed on his life.
“When you are just so involved and so interested in helping people, sometimes you do stupid things,” he explained.
After pondering his next course of action, Kaseman saw that no one in the mountains was fluent in English. It was something children asked to learn, so one day he went to their school and taught a class. He came again the next day, and the next.
He spent the next five years teaching English for no charge. All the while, he used his personal savings to provide for the needs of the poor.
Thus began his own non-profit, Angels of Medellin. Staffed by volunteers from all over the globe, Kaseman has led the effort to educate and help poor and displaced children in a practical way.
In Spanish, they call him the “Father of the Mountains,” and to many families in Latin America, Fairport native Mark Kaseman has become just that.
The 61-year-old has been living in Colombia since 2005, where he started a school to teach English to children and adults. His organization, Angeles de Medellin, has since touched the lives of thousands of families and volunteers from all over the world.
Kaseman says the journey came unexpectedly. He first traveled to South America in 2004 to tour the Amazon rainforest (the preservation of which continues to be one of his great passions).
The trip included a stop in the city of Medellin, located high in the mountains of Colombia. He immediately fell in love with the city, and after returning home, sold the printing and graphic design business he ran with his brother for 23 years and made plans to pick up and move.
It was a big decision, but as Kaseman says, “Sometimes we have to follow our dreams.”
He soon learned that the majority of the natives lived in poverty and were driven into the mountains by violence in the Colombian Civil War and drug-related conflict. As a result, the city was controlled by a militant group of guerillas.
After several months, Kaseman crossed paths with two American missionaries who were involved with a relief organization that distributed food, clothing and medical care to the poor. The outpouring of gratitude became the spark that inspired him to do more.
When children saw him coming, they ran to him with shouts of “Marcos! Marcos! Marcos!” Then the paramilitary told him and his partners to stop. The missionaries obeyed, but Kaseman was too determined to stay despite threats placed on his life.
“When you are just so involved and so interested in helping people, sometimes you do stupid things,” he explained.
After pondering his next course of action, Kaseman saw that no one in the mountains was fluent in English. It was something children asked to learn, so one day he went to their school and taught a class. He came again the next day, and the next.
He spent the next five years teaching English for no charge. All the while, he used his personal savings to provide for the needs of the poor.
Thus began his own non-profit, Angels of Medellin. Staffed by volunteers from all over the globe, Kaseman has led the effort to educate and help poor and displaced children in a practical way.
The work started operating out of a small school house, but thanks to a generous donor, Kaseman was able to build a small office in the mountains, which functions as a school and community center.
There is no electricity or running water, but five computers (without internet access) are the basis of learning for those who come.
Students include children, their parents, and even police officers.
“These are moms and dads and children who maybe have almost minimal education, but they know English and computers are their future, so they come,” Kaseman explained.
Since Kaseman lives outside the mountainous region, he commutes 90 minutes to and from the center every day, which is surrounded by dirt roads. Every day, there is a line of people waiting for him to open the doors.
He comes home twice a year to visit his family in Fairport and talk to students about his work. In Columbia, he has recruited many college students from area universities. This year alone, he’s had volunteers come from 27 different countries, and received donations from many across the globe.
“I have people who are fluent in Spanish and people who speak almost no Spanish and I tell them, don’t worry. Can you hug a child? Can you give love? That’s my prerequisite. If you can give love, you’ve got it.”
The community center has become a fun place for children to learn and play. Over the summer, they held an Olympic games with relays and medals. Kaseman holds parties each month where he distributes food and supplies to families. Last year’s Christmas party helped serve 3,400 kids and 1,000 families.
This Saturday, Oct. 27 he’ll be hosting a huge Halloween party.
“Unlike in America where people really look for handouts, these people will ask, ‘Can I work for you?’ They’ll clean a window. You name it, if you need a ditch dug, they’ll do it. Just give them something.”
As he carries on the effort, he admits it’s saddening to hear people think Colombia is nothing more than a dangerous and drug-infested country filled with needy people.
“They’re wonderful, loving, open, friendly people and some might say ‘How many people are lined up every day for a handout?’ and you know what I tell them? ‘Nobody.’”
