Colombian

Resuscitated indigenous agricultural knowledge and culture which was suppressed through colonization, conflict, and globalization.

• Initiative to bring elders of the four tribes of the Sierra Nevada Mountains together to walk the sacred spots around their mountains. 
• Encouraged the elders to teach knowledge to the next generation. 

Bought back communal land that had been shrunk by government programs.

Support, develop, and maintain sacred indigenous knowledge and foster self-determination.

• Ongoing partnership with POLUS Center (or Coffeelands Landmine Trust) providing job training and rehabilitation clinics for landmine victims
• Funding Commitment to date: $22,000

• Supporting creation of community-based museums to house and preserve indigenous cultural and traditional agricultural knowledge
• Training for local youth in cultural preservation
• Funding Commitment to date: $3,600

• 15 organizations (associate farms, schools, etc.) received a total of 86 community garden plots that benefitted 410 people. 
• Technical agricultural training for women and young farmers on 1,500 farms. 
• COVID-19 safety training, PPE and educational materials. 
• Funding: $7,400 

• Increase farmer knowledge in environmentally-friendly farming practices to adapt to climate change. 
• Inclusive and cooperative political and economic organization in the face of social conflict, illicit crops and armed actors. 
• Funding commitment to date: $5,997  

The Youth Cinema Project centers audiovisual training as a tool for storytelling, cultural preservation, and skill development. Youth participants learned multimedia production while interviewing community elders to document local history and lived experience.

Funding - $6,5000 

This project expanded the earlier Youth Cinema Project. Participants teach new students through peer-to-peer learning and skill sharing. The program also launched a youth-run café, providing hands-on experience in entrepreneurship, business management, and food service, while creating opportunities for youth to earn income and build confidence. 

Funding - $5,000 

In partnership with local leaders and educators, the initiative engages youth and community members in hospitality-focused skill building, including cooking, mixology, and customer service. The work supports young people in building viable futures within their own communities while strengthening sustainable tourism in Cauca, Colombia. 

Funding - $10,000