Fight plastic pollution in the bay of Cartagena

In the second period of 2024, we continued to advance the activities and goals established in our "Resilient Punta Arena" project. Our focus remained on strengthening the circular economy, community ecotourism, environmental education, and conservation actions in the territory. We identified the need to intervene in a community space and selected the local school as the most urgent and impactful target.

Educational Institution Renovation 

With support from the Travelling Paint Brush organization, the Sunshine Coast Rotary Club of Canada, and volunteer students from COJOWA, we renovated the entire facade and several classrooms of the Tierra Boma Educational Institution in Punta Arena. Volunteers, teachers, and students collaborated in these efforts, achieving significant beautification of the school.

Women's Empowerment and Entrepreneurship 

We continued to support 30 women Eco-Guides and entrepreneurs from Punta Arena through:

- Training workshops

- Digital marketing courses

- Entrepreneurship certification programs

 These courses, provided by the National Learning Service (SENA), offered participants opportunities to learn about new technological trends, social media, and strategies for transforming entrepreneurial ideas into profitable businesses. We extend our gratitude to the SENA instructors for their time and to all the women of Punta Arena who attended for their commitment and dedication.

 University Collaboration and Business Development

Through our alliance with UTADEO, we received support from their students and faculty, who developed economic strategies for the women entrepreneurs. These strategies will help promote their businesses to both local and international communities. Additionally, two women participated in green business fairs organized by the Corporación Autónoma Regional del Canal del Dique (CARDIQUE) and Fundación Fénix Beach, where they sold products, interacted with the public, and networked with other green businesses.

Cultural Preservation and Education

To support island culture, we encouraged reading and creativity by:

- Recovering stories from grandmothers

- Valuing local history and culture

The team behind the "Super Heroica" comic book co-conducted an interactive and artistic activity with students at the Tierra Boma Educational Institution. This experience was greatly enjoyed by the students. We also listened to Mrs. Delia's stories about Punta Arena's past and traditional fishing practices.

Environmental Education and Film Festival

In collaboration with Spanish cooperation, we organized four days of environmental cinema in September. Each wednesday of the month, we screened documentaries and short films from the official selection of the Trees and Seas Film Festival (TSFF) 2024, curated by Plastic Ocean. The event was attended by students and both local and foreign visitors, who expressed appreciation for this highly educational initiative callingb attention to plastic pollution and climate change.

Clean Seas: Guardians of the Ocean Project

As part of our "Clean Seas: Guardians of the Ocean" project, we have conducted 16 cleanup events thus far on beaches, mangrove islets, and pedestrian walkways. With the help of our dedicated volunteers and allies, we prevented 12 tons of solid waste, primarily plastics, from entering the sea.

Fundación Bahía remains committed to combating plastic pollution in the sea. We are grateful for the continued support as we work towards creating a more resilient and environmentally conscious community.