A rural community center for peace in Colombia

Rural villages Centers for peace - Pilot Vallecito, San Pablo, Bolívar

A Rural Community Center for Peace in Colombia

In the context of peace talks between the government and the FARC and facing the significant housing shortage in rural Colombia, the SERVIVIENDA Foundation is putting its 39 years of experience serving the construction of an intervention model for the transformation of living in rural towns with regional impact and projection; contributing to building peace in the country, from a comprehensive, participatory and sustainable pilot intervention in the village of Vallecito, San Pablo, south of Bolívar Department.

Since the beginning of the intervention in 2011, it is important to highlight the following achievements:

• The relocation of the township of Vallecito in a secure lot managed by the community.
• The participatory development of appropriate sanitation for 39 families living homes.
• The development of a process of social and environmental management for the empowerment of families and leaders to take ownership of their territory and strengthen their capacity to manage resources on their behalf.
• Partnerships with public, private and social actors associated territory management schemes.

In late 2014, was conducted participatory collective construction of four social facilities: Health Center, Rural School, playground and Communications Center, which were delivered to the Mayor of San Pablo; and guarantor of rights it reaffirms its commitment to ensuring the township the provision of such equipment and have the necessary strategies to achieve their appropriate and sustainable use.

Moreover, meanwhile the community organized in committees for education, sport and health, to ensure the proper use of equipment and lead management processes to the appropriate entities, ensuring smooth operation and maintenance.

The inhabitants of Vallecito mention some impacts generated by the intervention of the SERVIVIENDA Foundation in its territory, among which are:

• Improvement of living and health of families.
• Generation of informal employment and income for families in the township and surrounding areas in the municipality.
• Technical training versus building system SERVIVIENDA (enlistment of land, concrete platelet production, assembly and completion of housing solutions).
•   Strengthening of good environmental practices and peaceful coexistence.
• Consolidation of a community that recognizes the importance of exercise and active citizenship rights approach to improve their quality of life and community development.
• Approach to public and private institutions by the community.

We thank our donors for their strong support for the construction of the community center, for which continue to manage resources, as well as for planting trees, which contribute

Thank you, very soon the Foundation may publish the Intervention Model "rural villages Centers for peace" for replication in other vulnerable areas

• Report.pdf (PDF)
  
• Informe_Espaol.pdf (PDF)