Introduction

My name is Breiner Rúa and I seek to make a difference in vulnerable communities like informal settlements. In a sector located in the south of the municipality of Palmar de Varela, in the department of the Atlantic, there is an informal settlement where about 300 families live in precarious conditions and even poverty, with limited or illegal access to public services. Most of the houses built are made of wood, cardboard, and plastic, with no floors made of material such as concrete, mortar or finish and improvised doors and windows. Dwellings are built without a defined technique or structure. As a result, in times of heavy rainfall this informal sector is affected, floods, windstorms or electrical problems are common in those times.

The objective of this project is to improve the physical, environmental, and socioeconomic conditions of this informal sector, through a pooling of volunteers and ONG who join efforts to transform the adverse conditions of this community. So what you hope to learn is to know in detail each of the problems that informal settlements face, how they live, what they do and how they earn their daily living and how to help solve these problems.

Description

In the first advances of the project it was identified that 90% of the families living in these informal settlements do not have legal access to electricity, 50% do not have drinking water and 70% use gas pipettes for cooking, without adequate access to the public household gas service. Similarly, these families are engaged in informal work, selling fruits, vegetables, and other foods. This "Make a Difference in Informal Settlements" project is chosen because in the municipality of Palmar de Varela, as well as in other municipalities in the department of the Atlantic, there are sectors with the presence of informal settlements, that is to say, communities that have illegally occupied land and built houses on the verge of marginalization and even social exclusion.

The initial plan was to bring food and clothing for vulnerable families living in this sector, through the work of volunteers and foundations to join the initiative. Currently, work has been done to improve the socio-economic conditions of families, bringing markets with non-perishable food and clothing, as well as providing psychological advice, motivational talks, events, and community workshops. As a result, the situation of informal settlement families has improved.

Evaluation

During the project:

As a team are you working together to help each other overcome obstacles?

It is good teamwork; among volunteers it is important to collaborate with each other, listen to the ideas that each one has and thus develop a project that succeeds in transforming and making a difference in a community.

Is the project going according to plan? If not, how can you modify your plan to achieve the outcome?

The project was going according to plan, but with the health emergency that arose it has stopped for the moment. However, when activities can be resumed, efforts will be made to continue to assist this community.

After the project:

What was the most enjoyable part of this project?

The most enjoyable part of the project was getting to work with the community, and it was satisfying for them to take them into account, not only in times of government elections but at times when they needed it. Seeing the smile of the children and mothers was the most satisfying thing of this experience.

Did you achieve your goals or objectives of the project?

At the moment the goals have been achieved, we know that there is still work to be done, but the difference has been made in what has been presented.

Conclusion

The Making a Difference in an Informal Settlement Project focused on identifying each of the issues facing this type of human settlement and helping to change each of the social conditions, adverse economic, physical and environmental impacts that these families are facing. With the work and activities carried out with the community, some of the situations that families lived in have been changed; it is projected that the work will grow and with the help of ONG such as Techo Colombia, resources are made available to change the conditions of each dwelling in this sector.