Colombia, Social Enterprises and Beyond
Two of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals focus on institutions of peace and sustainable communities. Collectively, the goals call for access to justice, opportunities, and basic needs for all. While the UN is calling on institutions globaly to take the charge on these topics, we want to celebrate fifteen passionate social enterprises who are weaving this challenge into the core of Colombian tourism.
It Started With Impulse Travel
IMPULSE Travel -a tour operator and social enterprise- connects leaders building peace and preserving culture to the tourism market in Colombia. When the pandemic put their projects at risk, IMPULSE remained true to their mission and emphasized their focus on taking care of their communities. With support from Tourism Cares, Booking.com, ProColombia and individual donors, IMPULSE Travel launched “Líderes de Cambio” (meaning “Changemakers”) to support 15 community projects all positioned to create a better future for Colombia through the tourism value chain. Now, the initiative is providing much-needed income and help to vulnerable communities.
Each project has a unique approach to change and, therefore, positively impacts different social and ethnic groups. Between the communities, there are:
6 women-led initiatives,
3 projects built by indigenous groups,
3 projects led by afro-descendant groups,
6 projects that focus specifically on young people,
6 projects that protect cultural heritage,
and 7 initiatives designed to break violence circles in the local community.
In addition, IMPULSE has provided each of these projects with the know-how to guarantee the continuity of their peace and culture preservation efforts during these uncertain times so they emerge stronger from the crisis.
Together, these local leaders of social transformation are positively impacting over 60,000 Colombians.
The IMPULSE Team in Comuna 13 with leaders from the Afro Tour and Tourism Cares
“What these leaders need is someone to believe in their idea, connect them with like-minded people and give them fertile ground to grow their projects. This is exactly what we are aiming for with our Changemakers program.”
- Nikola Kelch, CMO at IMPULSE.
Elcy and Angela from Moravia Tours, one of the projects to benefit from the crowdfunding initiative
And The Changemakers Are……
The real stars of this initiative are the leaders and their communities contributing in creative and innovative ways to build peace and preserve culture in their country, push social transformation, and better the lives of so many.
Meet-up between the projects Rafting for Peace and Breaking Borders
Eujua Só: A local enterprise selling handicraft goods and artisanal products. The initiative is led by women from the Embera indigenous group and backed by different indigenous communities with the aim of eliminating stigmas about the coca plant that has spiritual and medical value in their cultures.
Wuasikamas: The Inga indigenous community of Aponte, which replaced amapola crops, an illicit plantation, with sustainable coffee cultivation to preserve their land, language, traditions and contribute to building peace in Colombia.
Distrito Chocolate: Family farmers from the Pauna region, that replaced coca crops with cacao plants to build peace in their home and create a base for reconciliation through the magic of chocolate.
Juan Antonio, Leader of the Project Distrito Chocolate
Breaking Borders: A group of ex-gang members, who left their criminal past behind to become tour guides of their neighborhood and share history and art to create a better future for their children.
Weaving Hearts & Carving Lives: Wood and fabric workshops led by women and ex-convicts from the Egipto neighborhood in Bogotá, creating an alternative source of income as well as helping to reweave the social fabric of the area.
Traditional Chefs: Luz Dary is a leader changed the face of many local markets. She and her fellow female traditional chefs are reestablishing the value and preservation of these social and cultural hubs.
Luz Dary, traditional chef, and leader at the local markets
Moravia Tours: Rebuilding, gardening, and recycling projects led by female leaders of the Moravia neighborhood in Medellín. Once a dump yard, Moravia is today a place flourishing with culture, color, and captivating flower gardens.
Mangle: Lina or “Cafeína” founded a capoeira project, to teach young people this martial art as a way of anger management and community building to put an end to violence.
Unión Latina: A dance school born out of the passion of its teacher Yoiner who teaches dance to young people as a way to keep them off the streets and teach them self-love and confidence.
Afro Tour: A project that shows Comuna 13 in Medellín from a different perspective and tells the story of how young locals learned to appreciate their afro roots through the music they love most and separate themselves from local violence issues.
Fredy, Leader and guide for the Afro Tour in Comuna 13, Medellín
Rafting for peace: A group of Ex-FARC combatants that became professional rafting instructors and have created a project to share their transformation history and the beauty of the Caguan region with visitors.
Fishing with locals: Fishermen from the village of La Boquilla that are cherishing and preserving artisanal fishing techniques by sharing them with visitors.
Zenú Weaving Workshop: A group of women from the Zenú indigenous tribe that works for the preservation of their traditions and history in weaving workshops
Tambores de Lamba: A local drum and music workshop led by Janer, who teaches rhythm to young people of the area in an effort to preserve the traditional music of the region.
Janer, “Tambolero” and teacher at the percussion school Tambores de Lamba
Don Abundio y sus Traviesos: A group of dancers and singers of different ages led by Don Abundio, that protects culture and tradition through their musical performance.
Financial support will be distributed by IMPULSE to the projects in 4 phases over the next 3 months. Project leaders will also receive:
Expert advice on how to formalize their project,
Mental and psychological techniques to steer themselves, their project and their community through difficult times,
And bio-safety training to offer responsible and amazing travel experiences for when tourism starts up again.
The program also includes an on-going, facilitated exchange of experiences and advice between the communities. From August onward, the communities will then have the opportunity to develop projects for additional funding of COP $80,000,000 (apprx $21,000 USD) to keep building peace and protecting culture during the challenging time ahead.
Now, It Is Your Turn.
IMPULSE’s call to action allowed our Tourism Cares Impact Tourism Fund and many others to put money towards community projects, which in turn are uplifting vulnerable communities during a worrisome time.
It’s our responsibility as our chosen professions– to not just bring people to these communities, but to care for them before, during and after.
Flag these Changemakers as a resource for you to connect with through IMPULSE Travel and use to differentiate product development.
Ready to Learn More?
For more on sustainable tourism, read Demystifying Sustainability.
To learn how to recognize and seek out social enterprises globally, check out Defining Social Enterprises.