5) Description of initiative: We develop programs of training and articulation of social networks from the human rights and gender perspective.

We contribute to the management of domestic, group and community conflicts, and one of the three thematic axes that we work with concerns training for a healthy coexistence (theoretical and practical).

Within the axis of coexistence we work towards the transformation of conflicts, and within it we work with the following topics: conflict definition, conflict structure, kind of conflict, how to understand the conflict, map of the conflict, mediation process, average negotiation phase, study and dramatization of known cases. Also from here, we work with techniques to treat inconveniences, interests, personal wishes and possible negotiated exits.

The process of transformation of conflicts is present in all the activities of the organization since our main interest is to build citizens with high levels of leadership, persuasion and negotiation with groups that possess different interests.

Our primary beneficiaries are women and their families; social organizations with which we have alliances at the local, regional and national level.

6) Description of innovation: It is different because it involves families in need not only to transform their nucleus, but also the political responsibility that they possess as a family group in the creation of model communities that contribute to the improvement of social, economic, political and cultural conditions in the country. A component that transforms the initiative into something unique and innovative is the involvement of the different members of the family in social networks, according to their interests that later have a meeting point in order to jointly negotiate common agendas. The other component is to articulate the axes of healthy coexistence, local and business development under gender and human rights perspectives with all members of the families in different spaces.

7) Delivery model: To work in Barranquilla and, above all, in the South West (with ethnic, religious, cultural diversity, etc.) A process that connects the families implicates to know which are the activities, scenarios and interests that motivate community participation, especially nowadays when, ideologically, the constant invitation to citizens is one of individualism, for this reason we promote different motivation strategies for participation; they are as follows:

• Connection to theatrical plays.

• Recreational activities with children and youth; invitation to parents.

• Las Farolatas (innovation in the recovery of the little angels day).

• Family gatherings, coexistence.

• Joint elaboration and management of productive processes.

• Encouragement of leadership workshops.

• We work a lot on affection, friendship and constant communication.

• Evidence of change in some families and favored organizations.

• Recreation, painting, games, cooperative games.

• Children encourage their parents.

• Family visits.

• Experiences shared with parents and children.

8) Key operational partnerships: We have chosen to work with alliances among organizations that show great interest in our proposal and promise to replicate it with our help. Currently we are working in a joint project with four organizations and ours was the chosen intervention model. In this kind of alliance, currently our organization is the reference or nuclear point for the management of the process as well as the administration of resources. Our main partners are social organizations, but we have also signed agreements with governmental and international agencies. All the alliances that we have linked have greatly contributed to the development of our proposal.

9) Financial model: Human rights promoters that have been part of our process have been subsidized with resources for transportation when the training place is far from their homes and when the training time exceeds four hours, we have guaranteed lunches. Also, we give direct beneficiaries a bonus as encouragement for the multiplication or replica that they must implement with other groups.

          • Costs as percentage of income: 30%

          • Financing: The initiative supports itself with contributions from associates, donations, training and organization service sales. The profit that we have is social. The beneficiaries contribute with 30% of the program expenses. In order to achieve long term financing we are strengthening negotiation plans that are driven through beneficiary groups.

10) Effectiveness

          • Project outcomes: 307 women and 70 men were trained as top notch human rights promoters. 600 women and 110 men were trained as second level human rights promoters and 2,007 people were made aware in the third level. 250 boys and 257 girls were trained as promoters for Children’s Network. 7 adult women and 3 adult men visited social control and/or decision making spaces. 58 women and 5 men are participating in the Network of Protection and Promotion of the DD.HH. 24 complete families engaged in the process. 144 female leaders were trained at the regional level.

          • Number of clients in past year: 765 people

11) Scaling up strategy

          • Stage of the initiative: Scaling Up stage.

          • Expansion plan: The plan for the next three years is: 1 -The multiplication of our proposal in the 8 departments that are part of the Colombian Caribbean, this would implicate to consolidate it as a region process. The Caribbean is one of the poorest regions of Colombia and it is where the paramilitary has had its main support which is why it went from being a pacific zone to being one of the most violent zones in the country; that is the reason why a process of regionalization is required to achieve financial autonomy and human development. This process must necessarily propose a strategy that responds to a series of conflicts that affect the region.

12) Origin of the initiative: In February 1998 a group of community leaders belonging to neighborhoods of the communes 1, 2, and 4 of the South West of Barranquilla, decided to organize a meeting with grass roots leaders that would allow to envision a proposal of social movement in the area that would search for solution alternatives to the social, economic and political conflicts being suffered. After 2 years and 6 months we decided to constitute the Pro-development of Families Association and our main motivator in this process is Audes Jiménez González, current Fellow of Ashoka.

Contact Information:
Audes Estella  Jiménez González
Ashoka Fellow
Docente especialista en gerencia social y en género, planificación y desarrollo
Asociación Prodesarrollo de Familias del Suroccidente de Barranquilla
(ONG)
Colombia