A wonderful year

This was an incredible year in which we accomplished many wonderful things. Therefore, we'd like to give you a rundown of our year, all thanks to you and this wonderful project that grows year after year.

We kicked off this year in Cartagena, together with Chica Morales, holding the best craft fair on the coast. "Farex," where we showcased the newest projects from the project we've been working on with GIZ and the National Parks. Sheira and Yosuu presented their new collections, and the leaders had the opportunity to learn how to present at a fair and showcase their projects to all the visitors. Cartagena was a success, and the Foundation continued to support the five communities of Manaure. It was the first fair we held after two years of the pandemic, something both the foundation and the communities had been eagerly awaiting.

February was very special because we were able to deliver school kits to the communities so children could start the year with full energy and support families who don't have the means to provide these supplies. This is important because education is the seed of change, and children are the future of communities.

March and April were months of intense training in the high Guajira. Dodging the rains and climate changes, the foundation team arrived at Bahía Hondita, a desert jewel that houses and protects Laos' mangroves and with them hundreds of species of crocodiles, flamingos, and lobsters. The community mostly speaks only Wayunaiki, and due to their location and limited contact with the interior, they are as pure as the landscape. They dedicate themselves to fishing, crafts, and maintain traditions that have been lost in many Wayuu communities.

We also continue to work with Portete and Yariwanishi in the National Park communities to strengthen their organizational and productive capacities, as well as in the areas of design and marketing.

In May, we held a green building workshop in the community of Manaure. The workshop was a success, and we were able to create our first rammed earth wall and paint murals with natural pigments. The community home turned out beautifully!
They also went to Kalapuipa in Bahia Honda and held a mural painting workshop. They were very happy because, despite having excellent materials in their territories, they had never painted with natural pigments or made sealants.

In June, we began our long-awaited sewing workshop. Our Glow with the Flow project took place! We managed to obtain five sewing machines and train 16 women from the Cabri-tos community to sew Wayuu blankets, reusable menstrual pads, and some fabric packaging. They were taught how to use the different sewing machines: flatlock, serger, and collerin. The women were very happy with this new endeavor.

This same workshop was held in Portete and Yariwanishi, and they focused on making blankets. It wasn't easy to transport the machines, but despite the wind and sand, the workshops were a success, and each woman made her own blanket.

In July, we were in Bogota at the Buro fair. For the first time, Buro and Giz supported us in the presentation of the communities' ancestral art. At this event, Yariwanishi launched their new collections, and Kalapuipa presented its brand JUNNA. The support from the people was excellent!

In September, we were selected for the Google for Startup Women's Entrepreneurship Program. It was very intense, and we learned a lot alongside several Latin American companies.

In October, we were selected by Promujer for a gender equity program. We're also working with several companies in the region, all looking at how to achieve greater equity internally and externally. We'll start our project next year, and we'll be sure to keep you posted!

November was a very special month because we managed to transport 35 bicycles from Bogota to Ciruelakat and reward the reading club students who diligently attended on Fridays and Saturdays to practice reading and writing. We also managed to donate desks and water tanks.
to take advantage of heavy rains and collect water.

We also managed to return to the communities of Alta Guajira and prepare for the trip. Leading years for Bogotá for our presentation at Expoartesanias and Vassar.

December marked the "graduation" for the communities of Portete and Yariwanishi, who spent a year and a half training with the foundation and presented their independent projects at an artisan expo. The fair was a success, and they applied all the concepts they had learned.

This year we achieved great goals and are happy and grateful for all the support. Thank you GIZ, national parks, all our donors, volunteers, and supporters. 2022 was a wonderful year!