In 2007, a great dream was born in Bogotá and 10 years ago, it moved to Cartagena. A dream that flourishes in the midst of the tragedy: a maelstrom derived from the Winter Wave of that year, which terribly hit the Bolívar region and left, according to the Risk Management Department of the Ministry of the Interior, more than 9,000 homes destroyed and 80,000 affected families (more than 15% of the national total).
FEM, in order to contribute to solving the problems caused by this devastating flood, was officially registered as a non-profit entity. The novice foundation, the result of the convergence of people of diverse origins and mentalities who immediately began to work together shoulder to shoulder, created the UPYA project with the authorization of the Municipal Mayor's Office, the Governor's Office and Colombia Humanitaria.
What is UPYA? It is a term in Swahili that means construction. It is a project that aims not only to physically restore the houses destroyed by the devastation, but also the social, neighborhood and economic fabric that sustain a community for its survival. It is about building TOGETHER, through 3 components (sanitation and sustainability; housing; and social fabric for self-care), an Eco sustainable citadel on stilts that turns adversity into an opportunity for development. UPYA has been the seed that has given rise to a whole variety of dreams, projects and actions that today make up the fundamental purpose of FEM. Based on this model of education and collective construction, FEM, in order to creatively solve social problems, overcome the conditions of inequality that affect our district and increase the social capital of Colombia, has been adding to new challenges, expanding borders and opening new work fronts in various communities, until it became what it is today: a factory of dreams and ideas in full swing, convinced that through specialized work, collaboration, social and business innovation and the strengthening of inclusion and interculturality, we will be able to solve historical problems, create a truly sustainable society and achieve the long-awaited peace in Colombia.