Feed the hungry, COVID 19 - Cartagena

Many thanks for your support and contributions! Your generosity has funded this project and enabled Fundación Bahía to help island communities and families in need during this pandemic. Thanks to your support, 5.970 households of Cartagena have been delivered provisions in the last three months! In total, the island communities of Cartagena received 1.500 basic food provisions thanks to you, 4,250 kilos of fish, thanks to a generous fish donation from the Antillana Company and 220 biological protection kits, with reusable face masks and alcohol bottles, which were sent to Tierra Bomba and Punta Arena. The food provisions were delivered to the different island communities with the help of the Colombian Naval Forces, and distributed to the different households by local community leaders - the Consejos Comunitarios. The whole operation, supervised by Fundación Bahía, was done with the support of the Cartagena Mayor´s Office. Private partners for this project, donors, the Armada, Antillana, the Rotary Club Cartagena and the company Beatriz Camacho, have contributed greatly.

As you are aware, with the arrival of the Covid-19 in Colombia and the confinement measures that quickly followed, it has been very difficult for many people in Colombia to support their families. The island populations of Cartagena, which already suffered from poverty and mainly relied on tourism, were hit especially hard during these times of quarantine as their means of subsistence ceased to exist. Fundación Bahía is working hand in hand with Punta Arena’s community and its leaders to reduce plastic pollution, preserve its environment and strengthen its economic framework. Punta Arena is the most touristic part of the island of Tierra Bomba with its beautiful white sand beaches. Fundación Bahía is designing a project that would allow it to continue helping the community during this pandemic, but also engage beneficiary families in environmental work. The idea is to benefit families in need with food provisions in exchange for their commitment to preserving La Salina and helping clean up the future eco trails. Stay tuned for upcoming actions!

The fight against Covid-19 in Colombia is far from over. To this day the government of Colombia has declared that the quarantine will be effective at least until the 19th of June. Fundación Bahía will keep helping island communities with basic provisions as long as necessary within its means, as well as helping to prepare these communities for a gradual comeback to the work force, by following basic necessary precautions such as wearing a face mask and being able to clean their hands.  In an island with no running water this becomes especially important!

The Foundation has already sent 220 protection kits, with face masks and alcohol bottles, in preparation for future less strict confinement and the possibility of going back to work. The washable face masks are being done by the company Camacho Designs, following strict sanitary provisions and using anti fluid material. It is very important not to produce more waste that could end up in our Ocean, thus the use of reusable masks, bottles and bags. We must certainly do everything in our power to avoid the possible littering of our ocean and beaches with disposable face masks or gloves!

Fundación Bahía, partnering with Universidad Tadeo marketing department, also designed a small instruction leaflet with basic information and clear recommendations for island communities regarding Covid-19. The gist of the information, face mask and sanitary campaign is that if you take care of yourself, you take care of all. We are all in this together and we will get through!

Many thanks for your very generous support, Fundación Bahía will continue to work and help island communities and families in need!

Warmest regards,

Diana de la Vega