- One month after its launch, Compromiso Valle began its implementation by activating two priorities or work axes: food security and transformation of life projects.
- Through the Food Security axis, 64 of 82 community kitchens have been put into operation and more than 84,000 food rations have been delivered.
- Resources have been raised from citizens, companies of all sizes and foundations for more than $38 billion pesos to be invested in more than 14 social impact programs. The initiative was launched a month ago with $28 billion and the goal is to reach $50 billion.
- To date, more than 3,000 people have applied and are in the process of validation to become beneficiaries. Nearly 70% of them are young people between 18 and 29 years of age.
Cali, July 26, 2021. With the purpose of contributing to the generation of opportunities that transform lives, generate employment, income, new leadership and better education in the region; hand in hand with entrepreneurs, foundations and citizens, the Compromiso Valle initiative presents the progress achieved after its launch last June.
Throughout its first month, the initiative received donations from 58 companies of all sizes and foundations and at least 60 citizens , reaching resources of $38,000 million; a contribution that will help improve the lives of 30,000 young people and their families in seven municipalities in Valle del Cauca: Buga, Candelaria, Yumbo, Cali, Jamundí, Palmira and Buenaventura.
The first priority or line of action implemented was Food Security, which seeks to promote the expansion and strengthening of community kitchens. Thus, during the month of July, more than 84 thousand food rations were delivered and kitchenware was provided for the opening of 64 of the 82 community kitchens that the Compromiso Valle initiative aims to open. It is important to highlight that it was possible to reactivate the canteens Liceo Santa Clara, Altos de Normandía and AfroliValle, which had suspended their operations due to the COVID-19 contingency.
In addition, two training sessions on Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and Basic Sanitation Plan Programs have been held for 84 managers in charge of community kitchens. All this is the result of a joint effort with the Archdiocese of Cali and Pastoral Social, implementing organizations and leaders of the Food Security front of Compromiso Valle.
In addition to Food Security, the second priority that has already begun to be implemented is the Transformation of Life Project, which is executed and led by the Alvaralice and SIDOC foundations.
On the one hand, the "Abriendo Caminos" program of the Alvaralice Foundation is a commitment to urban peace, social prevention of violence, reconciliation and economic and social inclusion. Alejandra Vidal Arango, coordinator of the "Abriendo Caminos" program, explains: "The project will be implemented in 50 territories, 80% of which are located in Cali. At this moment, we are in the readiness phase, which corresponds to the selection of territories, selection and hiring of teams: psychosocial and Interrupters Leaders. Each psychosocial will be in charge of 7 teams, which will provide assistance to the coordination of the project and will strengthen the Switches Network by supervising the implementation process, training the team, accompanying community education actions, facilitating inter-institutional management, registration, follow-up and monitoring".
As for the SIDOC Foundation program called "Forging Opportunities", its purpose is to contribute to the reduction of youth violence in the prioritized territories with a model based on a public health approach. "In SIDOC Foundation we are committed to the recovery and advancement of our region, therefore, from July 14 we have made available to the community the registration form for the project 'Forging Opportunities', in which to date 2,135 people have applied, of which 73% are young people between 18 and 29 years old. In addition, we have opened 23 spaces for direct socialization and 70 spaces through program partners in Cali, Jamundí, Buenaventura and Buga, in which community leaders, young people from the front line, and organizations have participated," said Rocío Gutiérrez Cely, director of the Peace Building and Violence Intervention axis of the SIDOC Foundation.
In total, more than 3.000 people applied during the first month to the different programs that integrate the efforts of the managing and executing organizations of the initiative: Andi Valle del Cauca, Cali Chamber of Commerce, Comfandi, ProPacífico, Unidad de Acción Vallecaucana, Comfenalco Valle, Fundación Alvaralice, Fundación Carvajal, Fundación Fanalca, Fundación SIDOC, Fundación Smurfit Kappa, Fundación WWB Colombia, the Archdiocese of Cali, Pastoral Social Cali, Comfandi, Invest Pacific and the Valle por y para todos alliance. All interested parties are in the process of validation to be confirmed as beneficiaries of the programs.
Also, during the first month, a tour of events was held to present the initiative in each of the territories that will be beneficiaries. The meetings were attended by 1,039 people, bringing together leaders and institutional, citizen, youth and business representatives from the seven municipalities. Different meetings were also held to give continuity to the process of dialogue and active listening between business representatives and social and youth leaders.
Finally, during the following months, Compromiso Valle will continue with the opening and strengthening of 18 community kitchens; the implementation of programs that are part of the Transformation of Life Projects axis; and finally, the activation and implementation of the Employability and Entrepreneurship axes.
ON VALLEY COMMITMENT:
Compromiso Valle is an initiative based on active listening and collective construction that brings together citizens, companies of all sizes and foundations to contribute to the solution of the great social challenges of Valle del Cauca. The initiative, which prioritizes 6 lines of action and articulates more than 15 social impact programs, expects to benefit 30 thousand vulnerable citizens and their families in the municipalities of Buga, Candelaria, Yumbo, Cali, Jamundí, Palmira and Buenaventura.
It is a dynamic initiative under constant construction whose results are projected in the short, medium and long term and not only as an immediate response to the difficulties of the current situation. It intends to join and contribute to the structural solutions proposed by the Government. It is also expected to contribute to the reconciliation and reconstruction of the social fabric so necessary in the city of Cali and the department of Valle del Cauca after a period of high uncertainty and confrontation.
