“We are guided by the conviction that together we interweave a better tomorrow”

To develop and implement innovative solutions to the social challenges in the regions, with a focus on comprehensive participation among communities, authorities, company, foundation, and other strategic partners.

To be the leading organization in innovation of social management and a reference for the hydrocarbons sector in the country, recognized as a catalyst for the sustainable development of the regions.

With the support of Surtigas-Canacol Energy and Community Action Committees, we implemented Stage 1 of our Natural Gas Massification project along 7 streets in Sahagún. The goal of this project is to offer access to natural gas services to the greatest number of families in Canacol’s area of influence.

The social impacts of this projects focus on: 

• Contributing to improving the quality of life of the communities benefitted.
• Reducing the health risks, especially for women and children, of cooking with wood and charcoal, including problems associated with the lungs, eyes, skin, heart, growth, and development, among others.
• Contributing to the environment by promoting the use of clean energies and reducing deforestation.
• Contributing to household economies by reducing cooking times associated with wood-burning stoves, in addition to decreasing monthly utility bills due to the use of natural gas instead of the gas cylinders currently used by some families.
• Decreasing the risk of fires linked to cooking with wood and charcoal.

The project also financed the construction of City Gate, interconnection, and distribution networks, in addition to internal networks (within the home), as well as implementing workshops about natural gas use, risk management and payment culture. These households currently have access to natural gas, in compliance with the 7 agreements reached with the community through the Community Action Committees.

• Approximately 3,605 people and 721 households benefitted during Stage I.

Through our academic program entitled Public Sector Budget Management and Project Development, designed by Universidad de los Andes in conjunction with the Entretejiendo Foundation and with the technical support of the National Planning Department (DNP), training was offered to leaders, technicians and professionals responsible for managing local projects within the royalty framework. Three projects were chosen to be presented to OCAD.

•  50 leaders, technicians and professionals trained.

The Entretejiendo Foundation implemented Stage 2 of its Young Voice program. It provided seed capital and offered management, legal and accounting support to four enterprises that were the winners of the 2018 Entrepreneur Fair held as a graduation requirement of a leadership program coordinated by Cede Social Foundation and the University of Sucre. The winning projects were:

"Vivero Sembrando Futuro", offering plants and reforestation campaigns.

"Piscisol”, associated with consolidating productive vocations within the region through farming and the sale of fish for human consumption.

“Capi.net”, focusing on offering training for children and adults in basic computing concepts, helping promote digital literacy and entrepreneurship.

“Crearte Sueños”, bringing painting, art and dance to the streets of the town to showcase and promote it.

As part of the Mi Bici program, designed by World Bicycle Relief, and in conjunction with Postobon Foundation , in 2018, we donated 610 bicycles to children from numerous schools, guaranteeing them access to learning opportunities and helping them get to school by using an environmentally friendly mode of transportation.

In 2019, we followed up with the thirteen schools that were chosen based on the project’s technical requirements. During this process, we established a baseline and measured the following indicators (many of the results were positive): 

• Decrease in time taken to get to school and absenteeism.
• Increased punctuality.
• Savings in transportation costs.
• Health.
• Improvements to interpersonal relationships.
• Better grades.

The second component of this project is the creation of local entrepreneurships for the maintenance of the bikes.

Through the Bioblitz project, we offer community researchers the training they need to add to the biodiversity inventory in Colombia and around the world by monitoring and taking pictures of the fauna and flora biodiversity and uploading the data into a platform that is available to the world’s most renown scientists. In 2019, 212 students and teachers, not to mention community researchers, were offered training.

• 572 observations made in the international inventory and 198 observations recorded.

Through the Creative Free Time program, designed by the Rueda Rueda Foundation, we promote the design, development and implementation of education projects that help students make the most of their free time through art, sports and cultural activities that focus on encouraging harmonious and friendly interaction with their community, in addition to helping them identify their talents. These projects are now officially part of Colombia’s Institutional Education Plans (PEI).

• 3 schools have incorporated this model into their PEI.
• 2 agreements with local governments to implement this process at schools within their towns.
• 6 art events to promote recycling and several sporting events.
• Improved school facilities by students and teachers through recycling workshops.
• 50 people from the education community received training to help them teach the Creative Free Time model.

Through the Clean Water for All project, the Entretejiendo Foundation guarantees the supply of potable water to schools with more than 600 students each by providing access to water sources.

• 2 schools in Sahagún and La Unión.
• 2,200 children benefitted in 2019.

Derived from the results of water quality tests undertaken at two schools, we achieved a 100% improvement based on pre- and post-chemical visual inspections of potability, with microbiological testing still pending. The second stage of this project will focus on the installation of a water refrigeration system in the towers already constructed and the installation of 5 more towers in new schools.

Through the Pisoton model created by Universidad del Norte for teachers and caregivers, we focus on promoting the healthy emotional development of children between the ages of 2 and 7.

In 2019, we added parents to the program, and analyzing the impact the model has on children from the rural community. The highest scores in the surveys focused on the following areas:

• The development of social communication skills between the children and their parents.
• The demonstration of interests, needs and feelings by the children.
• Autonomy seen as taking the initiative or as an unprompted response by the children.

This program is proven to help strengthen family relationships and the bonds between children and their parents, not to mention the former’s self-esteem.

Medical and surgical campaigns held by the Patrulla Aérea Colombiana, offer the most vulnerable communities access to quality healthcare. Furthermore, in 2019, thirteen wheelchairs were donated by the Order of Malta to people living with disabilities.

• 2,331 people treated during medical campaigns in three different municipalities.
• 882 people treated during surgical campaigns aimed at women, children, and the elderly.
• 60 cats and dogs received treatment during veterinary campaigns.

www.entretejiendo.org