Dear Friends of Colombia Members and Supporters,

 

As the year draws to a close, we take a moment to reflect on the incredible strides we’ve made together with Friends of Colombia. Your steadfast support has been instrumental in helping us make a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals and communities throughout Colombia.

 

Throughout 2024, we remained dedicated to advancing community development, empowering youth, and promoting education. Thanks to your generosity, we were able to fund four outstanding projects led by Peace Corps Colombia volunteers through our small grants initiative. These projects are at the forefront of creating positive change, providing new opportunities, and strengthening communities. They include:

 

  • Makondo Verde (Aracataca, Magdalena) – teach youth how to care about the environment and generate income by planting vegetables native to the region in the local greenhouse
  • ARTECANO (Ponedera, Atlántico) – taught workshops for children about pottery and ceramic practices native to that community 
  • Sabanagrande Piscicultura (Sabanagrande, Atlántico) – utilized green technology to lower the energy usage at an aquaculture facility
  • Semillas de Esperanza (Tabio, Cundinamarca) – had local leaders teach children about ancestral agricultural practices while constructing a greenhouse and orchard for a daycare center

 

Ongoing Partners and other updates:

  • GLOW – held a camp in June that focused on women’s empowerment for 70 teenagers, who went on to lead projects and small groups in their rural communities
  • The Marina Orth Foundation – students won 12 medals in international and national robotics competitions and ran a high tech bootcamp for 300 rural kids in robotics, 3D printing, audio visual design and virtual reality.
  • TCP Global – sent $1500 to Colombia for loans to members of a chocolate cooperative in Guachaca, Magdalena. In 2024, their grassroots partners, worldwide, issued 7,600 loans worth $1.9M with a 98.83% repayment.
  • Paso a Paso and the Magdalena Foundation – supported dozens of  grade-school students and college students with scholarships
  • Museum of the Peace Corps Experience – planning exhibits at the International Peace Museum, MLK Memorial Library, and virtual content at the new Peace Corps Park in DC.
  • FUCAHIS – FOC facilitated the transfer of funds for 10 students’ university scholarships that are supported by FOC member Tad Runge

 

FOC continues to channel our collective efforts into two vital causes. Firstly, we will continue to support Peace Corps Volunteers in the field through their community-based projects. Secondly, we remain committed to our ongoing partnerships with our organizational allies in Colombia. Your support will help sustain and expand these critical initiatives, amplifying our impact on the ground.

 

As we approach the holiday season and the end of the year, we invite you to join us in making a difference. Your contribution, whether big or small, will help shape a brighter future for the communities we serve.

 

To make a tax-deductible donation and support Friends of Colombia’s mission, please visit FOC online (https://friendsofcolombia.org/donate-now/) or send your tax-deductible contribution to: 

 

Friends of Colombia 

PO Box 15292 

Chevy Chase, MD 20825 

 

Thank you for being an integral part of our journey. Together, we can create positive change and empower communities for a brighter tomorrow.

 

Wishing you a joyous holiday season and a happy new year!

 

Warm regards,

Alyssa Galik (RPCV Colombia 2016–2018)

President, Friends of Colombia