Hurricane Iota Relief – Providencia Community Center
In March 2021, Hurricane Iota was the first Category 5 storm to hit the San Andres Archipelago, causing widespread damage, particularly to the islands of Providencia and Santa Catalina. On Providencia, 98% of the infrastructure was damaged, causing 2,200 families and 6,500 people to lose their homes. Working with the Colombian Embassy in Washington DC and other donors, FOC donated $5,000 towards the construction of a community center in Providencia.
This community center will be the first common space on the island and will also provide a safe place to gather during future hurricanes. Construction of the building has been delayed due to supply chain issues and transportation challenges. Once the materials are on the island, the community center will take approximately 5 months to complete. They also plan to offer the following services: humanitarian aid, psychosocial care, community social infrastructure, and community development.