Our story
2008: FEM was created!
With 4 co-founders, we knew we wanted to fight against inequality and discrimination, but we didn't really know how.
2011: Work in the field begins!
After the 2010 and 2011 floods in the Colombian Caribbean, FEM realized how effective its community organization methodologies were, so a team began working full-time!
2014: Internationalization begins
We held our first joint workshop with Architects Sans Frontiers UK. We began to understand the power of bringing together highly skilled teams with informed communities to carry out participatory planning.
We created our first business to self-finance.
Cartagena Insider Tours is born, with one of its objectives being to finance 24% of our field costs.
2018: We received the Obama Foundation Fellowship
We already have 3 more businesses that finance a little over 50% of our costs, and we are incubating 2 more together with the communities we work with. We were selected to receive a year of support to scale our impact at Columbia University through the Obama Foundation!
2022: Resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic
Despite the challenges of the pandemic, FEM maintained its active work in 3 communities through cultural activities, empowerment workshops, environmental protection, and legal support.
2024: We launched our urban program
FEM takes a new step with the creation of “Manos a la Obra”, our first urban initiative, in the 20 de Julio neighborhood of Cartagena. The program was co-created with 2 inspiring women, Social Work students from the University of Cartagena.
2025: Another historic milestone Rocha obtains its collective land title
Twelve years after beginning to accompany Rocha in their fight for land rights, the community has finally obtained official recognition of their collective title.
Joining other Caribbean communities that we have accompanied on their path toward collective titling, this achievement has already sparked the interest of new coastal communities.
2026:
Our path continues
After developing the Ethnodevelopment Plan, we continue to accompany the Primero de Julio community in their process towards collective titling. We supported the consolidation of their community council's board of directors and strengthened their capacities through workshops on ethnic law and territorial rights.
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