After completing their voluntary service in Germany in 2023/24, Juan Camilo Holguín and Laura Sofía Cuervo felt a strong calling to give back to their home community in Buga, Colombia. In 2025, they launched the project “Securing Wellbeing and Strengthening Knowledge of Rural Women in Santa Lucía” to support the Monterrey region. Together with the women’s association ASOMUCANSA, they are driving change through knowledge, leadership, and sustainable business practices.
The project provides 15 rural women in Santa Lucía with the opportunity to leverage their leadership potential and traditional expertise. Through workshops on entrepreneurship, sustainable agriculture, and organic production, the project fosters their economic independence and strengthens their role within the community.
In the Monterrey region, women often face structural barriers and limited access to markets. This initiative creates a positive impact by:
- Promoting personal and economic growth while preserving cultural heritage.
- Creating long-term perspectives for families through community gardens and support networks.
- Strengthening social cohesion through the sale of locally produced goods.
Using a holistic approach—focused on participation, networking, and wellbeing—the project directly supports 15 women, benefiting around 60 family members indirectly. The goal is a self-determined, resilient community that actively shapes rural development in Colombia.
We are specifically seeking funding for:
- Home gardens: Seeds, fertilizer, tools, and protective netting.
- Handicrafts: Sewing and overlock machines, fabrics, yarns, and accessories.
- Poultry farming: Purchase of birds, feed, and materials for building coops.
Every community membership brings this project one step closer to reality—join the community!