Los Medios is a rural village located five hours East of Medellin. During the 1990's, Los Medios was at the centre of the conflict between the Colombian government and paramilitary groups, which forced many residents to abandon their homes, leaving everything behind. Since 2011, 71 families have returned to Los Medios. This project aims to support these families by providing them with the necessary skills and capital to rebuild their lives and community.
Between 1996-2005 a total of 4252 families were forced to leave their homes in Eastern Antioquia as a results of the violent conflict between the Colombian government and paramilitary groups. Despite the return of 71 families since 2011, the war has scarred this community.While it has physically destroyed its socio-economic infrastructure, the psychological affects have eroded the community's social fabric.It is important to remember that the traumas of war extend to every aspect of life.
The project will strengthen the Los Medios Association, which provides socio-economic assistance to the 71 returning families who now live and work in the area. In particular it will professionalize the Los Medios Association by clarifying its mission, defining specific roles, creating lines of action and establishing guiding principles. Thanks to your generous support, the Los Medios Association is helping these families recover and believe in a brighter future.
The project's long-term impact strategy is to invest in the education of five community leaders and help develop participation mechanisms in order to boost confidence within the community. It will also enhance the Panela market by standardising the production process, ensuring the product's commercial quality and providing the certification for it to be sold to international markets. Amongst other things, Panela is used to make vinegar, confectionaries, soft-drinks and wine.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
