Job satisfaction in the field–Discovery Channel

In 2007, Cocorná's residents faced forced displacement due to armed conflict. "FEST" (Families on their Land) emerged as a government initiative to holistically support those who, as victims of displacement, chose to return voluntarily and rebuild their lives. A decade later, the Antioqueños returned, bringing forth projects and associations that transitioned from artisanal to agroindustrial endeavors.

Due to violence, Cocorná remained uninhabited for years, but today, its residents have come back with aspirations to reclaim their homes and lands. They established an association enabling direct sales to consumers, shifting from artisanal to agro-industrial practices.

"FEST" plays a vital role in the socioeconomic stabilization of households affected by forced displacement, fostering human and social capital, ensuring food security, enhancing habitability, and promoting productive projects.

In 2016, Social Prosperity and Pan American Development Foundation (PADF) implemented projects to complement and strengthen community initiatives, encompassing health, education, housing, sanitation, and food security. The combination of rigorous intervention, ongoing support, and strategic alliances has yielded sustained success for over a decade.

Recovered communities and culture-Discovery Channel

In June 2009, due to clashes between illegal armed groups, residents of the KM 28, Chilvicito, and Pindales villages along the Pasto-Tumaco Road were forced to flee to urban centres without the necessary tools to survive in unfamiliar environments.

Over the years, these communities faced numerous hardships. However, a group of women leaders initiated various initiatives and returned to their lands, reconstructing their cultures and lives in the countryside. They focused on creating food accessibility and self-consumption, exploring different alternatives for promoting productivity and consolidating leadership.

Social Prosperity, in partnership with the Pan American Development Foundation (PADF), has supported thousands of people in Colombia through numerous projects, including "FEST" (Families in their land). This initiative contributes to the socioeconomic stabilization of displaced households, reinforcing human and social capital, ensuring food security, improving habitability, and fostering the generation and consolidation of productive projects.

Within the KM 28, Chilvicito, and Pindales villages, the community constructed three huts with vegetable gardens and recycling centres and engaged in educational and community work activities.

The Colombian Government has designed, developed, and executed hundreds of projects to complement and enhance the processes led by these communities. These projects encompass social health programs, education, housing, basic sanitation, food security, income generation, environmental quality, industrial safety, and institutional support for public, private, and grassroots organizations.

The success of these interventions is attributed to their rigorous implementation, ongoing support, respectful relationships with different sectors, and the establishment of alliances. Over more than ten years, organizations like Social Prosperity and PADF have achieved significant and positive outcomes through collaboration with these populations.