Fight plastic pollution in the bay of Cartagena

During the months of February, March, April, May and June 2023, the focus of the Fundacion Bahia activities was to reinforce the environmental education in the communities we work with, in order to empower and give them tools to care for and restore their ecosystems. This year we are working closely with a very special group of women eco guides from Punta Arena. It has been a real joy to work with them and witness their growth, as they have embraced sustainablity, women power, entrepreneurship and conservation principles and guidelines for their lives. We have seen them discover their passion and flourish. Better still, their own personal small businesses have started to thrive! They are part of the eco and communitary routes that we have been co-designing with their help, in order to continue the transformation of this community into a haven for a more sustainable, community based eco tourism.

 In February we kicked off with a major beach cleanup with the company Interrapidismo and former Miss Colombia and influencer Paulina Vega, who embraced our cause! In March we had another Plogging day in Cartagena, where volunteers from university, schools, corporations and others, actively participated. Wecleaned 3 kms of beach while we exercised and reflected on the impact of tourism in the city. In addition, in April we had the valuable visit and support of a group of volunteers from the Business School of Berlin, who put their knowledge at our disposal.

 During the month of April, in celebration of the month of the earth, we decided to work in a secluded and very polluted mangrove area in Punta  Arena. We had four big beach and mangrove cleanup days in this area where approximately 200 people participated. In total we removed approx 300 kg of ordinary residue and 288 kg of recyclable residue, which will benefit the women eco-guides group. Many thanks to all the wonderful volunteers who helped clean up and plant mangrove and other local species in the region.

Fundacion Bahia organized a two day Sustainable cambiazo initiative in Punta Arena, in support of sustainable fashion and recycling practices. The families of the Punta Arena community exchanged bags with plastic bottles and/or cans for clothes in perfect condition. Approximately 244 kg of recyclables were collected and  more than 200 people were impacted.

During the month of May, we continued to train hard with the women eco-guides. They received English classes to help them interact with non-Spanish speakers. Historical and cultural appreciation workshops were also held in order to review the history of the territory, as a tool for the empowerment and transformation towards a more sustainable vision. The women eco guide association is in the process of being legally created.

In June, Fundación Bahía presented at the Emprende Sostenible Fair, where more than 50 companies that generate a positive impact on the environment were gathered. Many people learned about the history of the foundation, our impact on the territory and our work with vulnerable communities. In addition, two beach clean-up days were held in Punta Arena, on June 10 and on June 17, where a total of  89 kg of recyclable residues and 179  kg of ordinary residues were collected from ecosystems and avoided from falling into the sea.

Thanks so much to all the volunteers, communities, donors, companies and to everyone who made this work possible! Many thanks for all of your generous support!

Links:

• http://www.fundacionbahia.org