Our commitment to Cartagena

Tourism vs. Social Issues

Located in Colombia’s Caribbean coast, Cartagena de Indias is considered one of the country’s most important tourist destinations. In 1984, the city was declared a World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO, a nod to its cultural tradition and colonial infrastructure. Despite its influential role in the country’s economic development, Cartagena is also considered to be one of the cities with the highest percentage of social issues, derived mainly from its rapid demographic growth, a surge that has generated deep social and income inequalities in the population.

Poverty

According to the National Administrative Department of Statistics (“DANE” in Spanish), the percentage of people living in poverty and extreme poverty in Cartagena totals 34,6% of the population, equivalent to 340.000 people who live in dismal conditions. This data is particularly alarming in the city’s Commoners Government Areas (CGA) four, five and six, which register levels of Unsatisfied Basic Needs superior to 70% of the population.

Strategic Impact

Julie Foundation began its initial investigation in 2014 with the goal of finding an operational model that strategically impacted the city. After analyzing a variety social projects, the Foundation’s Board of Directors found that investing in women’s development and gender equality constituted a highly impactful path to achieving social change for underserved populations, while aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) established by the United Nations.