Rosario Islands Chapter
Extending a Hand Foundation continues growing and being strengthened for 21 years providing support and a better quality of life to vulnerable communities in Agua de Dios, Colombia, and in Florida, USA. Our different programs and projects express, through each activity, all the love that moves us ahead.
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Amid the difficult worldwide situation caused by the Covid 19 pandemic in this 2020, we have continued our activities which will help us replicate our model to highly needed and vulnerable areas.
ABOUT ORIKA
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LOCATED IN THE ARCHIPELAGO OF ROSARIO ISLANDS, THE INSULAR AREA OF CARTAGENA DE INDIAS, ORIKA IS THE ANCESTRAL AND COLLECTIVE TERRITORY NAMED AFTER THE DAUGHTER OF THE FIERCE BENKOS-BIOHÓ. THIS LARGE ISLAND FARMHOUSE IS MADE UP OF APPROXIMATELY A THOUSAND PEOPLE WHO DESCENDED FROM THE FIRST INHABITANTS OF BARÚ.
Its main economic activity is tourism, in addition to fishing and handcrafting. Orika is the largest of the 27 islands in the Archipelago of Rosario islands, with about 105 hectares of land. This Afro-descendant community has lived in this area for more than 200 years, and it is committed to cultural development and preservation through disclosure of their ancestral practices and care for the environment.
In a world of constant transformation they seek to be a benchmark of inspiration for other communities that seek to develop sustainably and that, like them, have the ability to generate a constant well-being in social, cultural, environmental and economic aspects.
THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS LITTLE PARADISE:
This “little paradise”, as called by its natives, is not only the sea, the beach and the sun shown to tourists traditionally. At these times of crisis, when tourism is no longer possible, its main economic source has been devastated. Therefore, the community faces serious problems such as lack of food, medicines, and basic living supplies, all getting worse after more than 3 months of insulation locked in their homes.
IN THESE TIMES OF CRISIS, THE COMMUNITY HAS SUFFERED DIRECTLY, BUT ABOVE ALL, THIS PANDEMIC HAS EXPOSED THE ABANDONMENT OF THE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION, WHICH DOES NOT HAVE AN INTERNET CONNECTION OR COMPUTERS.
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There are approximately 226 children who are currently studying at this school and, despite the lack of connectivity, curb their desire to continue studying and prepare for a tomorrow committed to the development of their community.
Our new Rosario Islands Chapter is starting activities with the following programs to be launched in Orika, Colombia:
1. Groceries of Love
2. Teaching with Love
Gradually, we expect to incorporate more programs and projects to this Chapter.
YOU ARE WELCOME TO HELP
Extending a Hand is inviting everybody to offer any help possible to this community. This is the time to give our hand to those who need our support. Please help us to fulfill the following initial programs:
1. Our "Groceries of Love" program is planning to help the 50 neediest families in the community, reaching a total of 205 people. In order to begin activities for this new Chapter in Islas del Rosario, we need any financial and in-kind support which will go to the 50 families selected to receive help.
2. Our “Teaching with Love” program: in order to implement this program, we need to set up and adapt a computer center. Thanks to DHL, our foundation obtained a donation of computers (hard drives) but now we need monitors.
