A New Beginning for 71 families in Colombia

Dear Donors,

The end of this year and the start of the next will bring great opportunity for the community of Los Medios.

As you know, their struggle has been to return to their village after being violently displaced during the period of extreme violence in the municipality of Granada. The elder generation of the community, of whom the majority are illiterate, are aiming to ensure sustainability and also ensure that their culture and traditions are maintained through the generations.

Interactuar, in collaboration with the Department of Social Prosperity and the Bavaria Foundation have been supporting the Los Medios Community Group in creating and maintaining a village shop, savings fund and school, all of which promote self reliance and sustainability in the village.

Now for the very important bit. Since our last project report, through the usage of our new personal fundraising campaigns, we have raised $436.60!! That translates to nearly 1.5m Colombian Pesos. In a community where people are asking for loans as small as 100,000 pesos for agricultural goods, this amount of money will go further than you can imagine.

With this money we will be able to continue supporting the already excellent work that has been taking place in the community so far. The village shop will be more profitable, as we are able to impart more sophisticated business management knowledge to the administrators, the savings fund will become more effective as the committee learn more accountancy skills and the children of the village will be better educated as the increased community income will allow reforms to be made to the school house.

All in all, your donations are making the tiny community much more sustainable. You are helping give them a future that would otherwise not be possible. In their history of pain and death and abandonment, you are giving them an opportunity to grow and thrive.

We will, of course, keep you updated on our progress into the new year.

Until then, we in the Together for Colombia team wish you all the happiness and prosperity for the coming Christmas and New Year period.

As always, from us and from the inhabitants of Los Medios, thank you for your hugely generous donations.

With warmest regards,