FEM has been possible thanks to the Volunteer Hostel, one of our strategies for fundraising and income generation. Yet, gentrification is putting our project at risk. In 5 years our prices have gone DOWN 50% due to price pressure from illegal operators, and our rent has gone UP 85%. If we accomplish the goal, we will be able to but property to make FEM sustainable for good. If we don't, the money will help FEM cover the costs of closing up the hostel, without affecting its operational budget.
Cartagena is visited by over 100.000 travellers per month. This represented a huge opportunity to make FEM more self funded. So we opened a hostel that was a huge impact. Not only did it save us 100% of our non operational costs, it attracted incredible people to Cartagena, who would then volunteer and stregthen the organization. Yet, in 5 years our prices have gone down 50% due to price pressure, while our rent has almost doubled due to gentrification. August 30 is our final day. This is NOW!
With the money from this crowdfunding, we want to accomplish 2 things: 1. remodel and rebrand so we can appeal to a higher income market that can sustain us better and 2. sustain the rent costs while this happens. If we dont collect the money by August 15, we have to move out by August 30.
If we raise more than 30.000 we want to buy property for FEM that will make the Volunteer Hostel strategy not only save costs, but increase our impact. This means we can potentially affect double the population we have already affected: over 30.000 people in the Colombian Caribbean.
