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Strengthening the capacities of both the community and the various actors involved in the human mobility process in Bucaramanga has been a priority of the Inclusive Cities, Solidarity Communities project. That is why several activities have been carried out for this purpose that seek to provide the community with tools that allow the refugee and migrant population to better face their process of integration into the host community. To this end, several activities have been carried out in the “Pretty City”, as the capital of Santander is known, and which are highlighted below.
Professor Ernesto Pajaro has been presenting the world of analog photography to children and adolescents for several years through the collective Miradas sin Fronteras. Children attend the group and learn about the process of taking photographs and videos and corverting them into proper material, getting to know different photo and video styles, among other topics, free of cost; the only requirement for them to enroll in the program is having the authorization of their parents or legal guardians. To support the group, in March 2022 a digital photographic camera with its respective tripod and accessories was given to Miradas sin Fronteras, also including supplies for analog photography; now the 25 children and adolescents who receive the teachings of Professor Pajaro, 10 of whom belong to the Venezuelan refugee and migrant community, will be able to apply what they have learned in a more appropriate way and each one will make a “minute film” with material collected in the video and photography activities they did in recognition of their territories and places in the TIU.
Similarly, during the same month capacity building initiatives were delivered to Bucaramanga’s City Hall’s offices such as the Social Development Secretariat, the Integral Center for Women, and the Municipal School of Arts. These dependencies received tents for workshops in the neighborhoods, audio booths, computer equipment, tablets, microphones, and teaching material for community work; In addition, training was provided on the appropriate use of said resources. Likewise, an endowment of community initiatives was delivered in the Granjas de Provenza and Viveros de Provenza neighborhoods to the dance, soccer, volleyball and photography committees of the ADCR culture organization, which consisted of folk costumes, sound booth, musical instruments (drums, flute, bagpipes, drums, maracas), cameras and sports equipment (bibs, balls, cones, ribbons), among others.
On the other hand, from February to April 2022 musical instruments (guitars, flutes, bagpipes, drums and maracas) were delivered to the artistic musical school for children and adolescents in coordination with the Municipal School of Arts EMA of Bucaramanga, which seeks to empower and guide ITU youth on artistic paths. 40 minors participate in the program, of which 18 belong to the refugee and migrant community of Venezuela. The school works with traditional music from both Colombia and Venezuela, which highlights the culture of origin and allows a mixture of styles that not only affects the creativity of the participants but also facilitates a good integration between the different members of the community.
In addition, in April 2022, adaptations, improvements and restoration of the collective assets of the Granjas de Provenza neighborhood were carried out, consisting of enclosures of areas of the water channel and adaptation and repairs of chain-link mesh and channel pipe and risk areas, as well as the installation of railings in pedestrian ladders. Trainings were also carried out with the aim of raising awareness in both the refugee and migrant community as well as the host community about the importance of cleaning public spaces from an environmental perspective.
These actions highlight our commitment to making Bucaramanga a more inclusive and solidary city.
