An account of the activities implemented by Stand Up Providencia Renace in 2020

During 2020, Stand Up Providencia Renace has been working hard to raise the necessary funds for the sustainable reconstruction of Old Providence and Ketlina Islands.

Thanks to all the donors, ambassadors and spokespersons of the campaign, COP 1,559,304,399, have been raised.

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December 7 - 11, the team of Stand Up Providencia Renace was on the islands making an analysis of the situation and talking to the leaders of Old Providence and Ketlina in order to involve the visions, concerns and expectations of the community regarding the reconstruction. 

During the week of December 14-21, the team of the Corporación Antioquia Presente arrived at the archipelago to begin the initial evaluation required for the reconstruction, psychosocial and economic support processes. his is of vital importance so that the investments that are made, are coupled with the needs of the communities and the conditions of the island so that all the projects have a correct long term sustainability.

The main results of this analysis were:

1. There is a need to implement communication strategies for development, aligning the knowledge of the process in all instances, external public, participating entities and the community in general.

2. The sectors of greatest social vulnerability are found in the areas with the lowest housing density per hectare: Ketlina Island, Camp and Bottom House.  

3. Reinforced concrete structures suffered great damage.This was caused by projectiles thrown by water or wind, in comparison to traditional wooden houses, which in spite of the onslaught of the elements managed to resist without greater affectation. Many of the traditional houses that suffered significant damage presented lightweight structures in superboards, which do not present adequate characteristics to support the emergency. 

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Next Steps

• We are consolidating an alliance with additional civil society organizations in order to add greater capacity and resources to the reconstruction of Old Providence and Ketlina Islands. 

• We have promoted dialogues with the national government in order to share our projection and work in a complementary manner, not to duplicate efforts and to focus on areas where we can carry out a comprehensive intervention to re-establish living conditions. 

• As soon as we have identified the areas, we will proceed to carry out an in-depth characterization of the community and infrastructure in order to formulate an Integral Action Plan for the implementation of the intervention model. 

Stand up Providencia renace

Providencia or Old Providence, an island in the Colombian Caribbean, was impacted by Hurricane Iota,  leaving more than 6,000 people affected and 98% of the island's infrastructure destroyed.

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What will the reconstruction look like?

• The rebirth of Providence must be respectful of its rich culture, architectural tradition and  environment. 

• Our commitment is that the infrastructure built under this initiative will last for many generations, improving the quality of life of the community. 

• Architect Simón Vélez will participate in the design of the houses and others spaces, with the highest standards of security and sustainability, in a collaborative exercise with the communities. 

Who is part of Stand Up Providencia Renace?

• Tamarin Foundation will contribute with its experience as an articulator of high impact projects.

• Give to Colombia will support with its international fundraising network.

• Corporación Antioquia Presente will coordinate the reconstruction efforts. 

• FiProvidence Network will coordinate between the different initiatives in support of the Archipelago, so that the reconstruction is done hand in hand with the island community.

Support the sustainable reconstruction of homes and community infrastructure on the island of Providence, along with the community!

HELP INDIGENOUS MIDWIVES SAVE MOTHERS' LIVES

We invite you to learn about Sierra Madre, a project implemented by Corporación Horizonte  with Wintukwa IPSI, which aims at training and providing medical equipment to improve the service that midwives provide pregnant mothers in the Sierra Nevada. You can support the project by donating at: https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/help-midwives-save-mothers-lives/ 

SIERRA VIVA program general meeting

On February 2, 2017, environmental agents, transporters, Arhuacos leaders , private enterprises, public sector organization, non-governmental organizations, indigenous authorities and Mamos met to build, from their different outlooks, the future path of the Program Sierra Viva. Tamarin Foundation took part in the meeting offering technical support. We are grateful for the invitation and will keeping doing our part to clean the Sierra Nevada of Santa Marta and to protect the "Heart of the World".

VISIt to the school in ABLEIZHI

Tamarin conducted a site visit to the project for the construction of the new school in Ableizhi, located in the basin of the Don Diego River in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, which is running in partnership with Global Heritage Fund and the Fundación de Investigaciones Arqueológicas y Ambientales Tayrona (FIAAT).

It is the construction of a school for the Kogi community of Ableizhi, which will benefit more than 40 students from primary school, 34 boys and 6 girls. The project has two basic objectives, the first is to improve the school infrastructure in such a way as to serve as an example for other communities and organizations, and the second is to support the efforts of the institution to increase the proportion of indigenous girls who attend school. 

The design of the school, developed in conjunction with the community, includes the construction of three classrooms and meeting space. Currently, 2 classrooms have been completed and one is still under construction. The inauguration of the school will be carried out in January 2017.

TAMARIN attending the PORTAFOLIO 2016 awards ceremony

This year the Program Sierra Viva was nominated by the Premios Portafolio in the "Environmental Protection" category. The award ceremony took place on November 26th, 2016 in Bogotá. Tamarin Foundation was very proud to accompany the project in this event. For two years Tamarin has supported infrastructure projects in the Sierra Nevada of Santa Marta in order to strengthen the impact of the Sierra Viva Program.It is not the first time that the Program is nominated for such an important award. Last year Program won the Latinoamérica Verde Award, in the category “Solid Waste Management”. Although the Program did not win this year, another allied organization of Tamarin Foundation, the Foundation Catalina Muñoz, won an award in the "Contribution to the Community" category.

inauguration of the ARBOLEDA recreational park

On 6 December 2016 the Arboleda recreational park was opened to the public.  With 8.954 square meters of green areas and entertainment spaces in the neighborhood of Potrero Grande of the Commune 21 of Cali, whose construction was led by the Foundation Fanalca, la Fundación Paz y Bien among others, and supported by Tamarin Foundation. 

Tamarin Foundation participated with the construction and installation of playgrounds equipment that will benefit approximately 12,000 girls and boys. 

Potrero Grande arises in the year 2004 due to the relocation of families from areas close to the Cauca river and to the Laguna del Pondaje. Currently, 28,000 people live in the area, the majority of Afocolombian descent. For the community the park represents a space of peace and coexistence, an oasis of security for all inhabitants.