Recovered communities and culture-Discovery Channel
In June 2009, violent clashes between illegal armed groups forced residents of the KM 28, Chilvicito, and Pindales villages along the Pasto-Tumaco Road to flee to urban centres, leaving them without the necessary resources to navigate unfamiliar environments.
Over the years, these displaced communities faced immense challenges. However, a group of women leaders took the initiative to rebuild their lives, returning to their lands to restore their culture and livelihoods. They focused on improving food accessibility and self-sufficiency, exploring sustainable solutions to enhance productivity and strengthen community leadership.
Social Prosperity, in partnership with the Pan American Development Foundation (PADF), has supported thousands of people in Colombia through various projects, including FEST (Families in Their Land). This program contributes to the socioeconomic stabilization of displaced households by reinforcing human and social capital, ensuring food security, improving living conditions, and fostering the development of sustainable livelihoods.
In KM 28, Chilvicito, and Pindales, the community built three huts with vegetable gardens and recycling centres while also engaging in educational and community-driven projects.
To further support these efforts, the Colombian Government has designed, developed, and executed hundreds of complementary projects to enhance community-led initiative. These projects span various sectors, including health, education, housing, sanitation, food security, income generation, environmental sustainability, industrial safety, and institutional support for public, private, and grassroots organizations.
The success of these interventions is rooted in rigorous implementation, ongoing support, and respectful collaborations with diverse sectors, strengthened by strategic alliances. Over more than a decade, organizations like Social Prosperity and PADF have achieved significant, positive outcomes through their commitment to empowering and working alongside these communities.
