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Activities in 2022
April 2022 - Landmine survivors complete workshop in Pasto, Narino.
Twenty landmine survivors from the Association of Survivors of Landmines, Unexploded Munitions and IEDs of the Abades Region in Colombia completed the third and final session of the workshop entitled "The Factory of Illusions." Each participant presented an entrepreneurial project proposal based on life experiences and received feedback from peers and instructors. Ten of the final projects were approved for funding and are now underway.
July 2022 - Coffee processing site under construction in Huila
Luis Alfredo Arce lost his right leg to a landmine near his home in Algeciras, Huila, in 2007. Based on his experience as a coffee grower, the Colombian Campaign against Mines with a donation of coffee plant seedlings. Although his crops have flourished thanks to his determination, he has difficulty processing and drying the beans without access to special machinery. DMCHF provided a depulping machine and materials that are enabling him to build a location that he and his neighbors will share.
In collaboration with the Lutheran World Federation, the Foundation co-sponsored an event for landmine survivors from the Chocó Cimarronaje Collective Association. During this 3-day event, DMCHF donated family food baskets to each participant and conducted interviews with them to explore possible future assistance for the development of micro-projects for sustainable livelihoods. Projects are expected to begin in late 2022 with the support of the National Learning Service.
Follow-up: Microprojects financed to turn dreams into reality
Ten participants from the Association of Survivors of the Abades region (ASOV-Abades) who participated in the workshop sponsored by the Doris Mae Case Humanitarian Foundation this year have started their small enterprises. For each project, the Foundation purchased goods and materials from local vendors, while grantees have provided the necessary labor and management to carry out their projects. As each project progresses, an alliance consisting of DMCHF, ASOV-Abades, the Samaniego Mayor's Office, the local office of the National Learning Service (SENA), and the Municipal Agricultural Technical Assistance Unit (UMATA) will provide ongoing advice and assistance to promote their sustainability and success.
Supported projects include:
- Small community grocery store.
- Internet cafe
- Juice bar
- Egg production
- Pig farm for meat production.
- Three coffee roasting and processing sites
- Dairy cows for the local production of milk and cheese
- Production of avocados
These ten projects not only support 34 members of the ten beneficiary families, but also hundreds of other members of their communities who will have better access to basic goods and services, as well as improved economic well-being. The great majority of the families in these villages are victims of forced displacement due to the conflict that has affected many of Colombia's rural areas.
Maria Irene shows her store, "Family Basket," which serves her small community.
Other projects financed in Samaniego, Nariño in 2022
Cristian not only worked to overcome the loss of his sight due to a landmine accident in 2009, but he dedicated himself to studying to obtain a degree in social sciences at the University of Nariño. His other goal has been to give back to his community by establishing the Internet cafe "Reconstructing Life" so that others can also study from a distance.
After her sister and cousin were killed by an antipersonnel mine in 2007, María Elvia and her family were displaced from their rural home to the town of Samaniego. Her dream of having her own business to support her family is now a reality, as she manages "Los Frutales" juice bar. She has also served as the secretary of the landmine survivor organization for over 8 years.
Teresa raised nine children as a single mother and overcame injuries from a landmine accident to envision a way to help her family and her people. The idea of raising chickens for egg production will help support both her family and her community by increasing the availability of eggs for local consumption.
After Porfidio was injured by a mine in 2007 that left him deaf in one ear, his family was forced to leave their country home for Samaniego. As president of the local organization of mine survivors, he pursued his aspiration to be certified as a producer of avocados for export.
Maria Margot's father was killed by an anti-personnel mine in 2008 and her husband suffers from Parkinson's disease. Despite these difficulties, she was inspired to raise cows to produce milk and cheese for her community, where dairy products are scarce.
When he was sixteen, Leonidas stepped on a landmine on his way to work in the fields and suffered serious shrapnel injuries, in addition to hearing loss. When the opportunity presented itself, he turned his experience into a positive motivation to raise pigs for sale in his community.