A fight for equality and opportunity

My most loved ideal is to have a free and democratic society that we can all live in harmony and with equal possibilities.

– Nelson Mandela –

Cartagena de Indias known as the Heroic City, Walled City or Playpen Stone is officially considered Tourist and Cultural District of Colombia and is located along the Caribbean Sea. The history of this city narrates that during the colonial epoch Cartagena de Indias was a target of strong attacks coming from pirates with the firm intention of plundering and destroying it, this is why the city had to be surrounded by castles and strong walls. Today this city fights against breaking the walls, not those that were built to protect it but the invisible ones of racism that the end game is to destroy and exclude the people who are considered “different” generating discrimination, hate, and violence. [caption id="attachment_4364" align="aligncenter" width="996"] Fundación Palenque Libre © Solkes[/caption] Even though 36% of the population of Cartagena is considered afro racial discrimination subsists and every day there are more people who are victims of this flagellum, both in institution and daily life.  

Breaking barriers

In order to reduce the racist and discriminatory signs that occur in the city and go against the dignity, justice and equality of opportunity is born in the department of Bolivar, the Fundación Palenque Libre (Palenque Free Foundation). It’s a foundation that seeks the equal participation not exclusive of the Black, Afrocolombian, Palenquera and Raizal community within its social, cultural, economic and political surroundings in society. Palenque Free Foundation, summons the heroic feat that star the towns of afro descendants in the fight for the rights to freedom dignity and African identity and the rebellion against the European colonialism slavery. [caption id="attachment_4365" align="alignright" width="300"] Fundación Palenque Libre © Solkes[/caption] We should remember that during the XVII century Cartagena maybe due to its geographical conditions became the principal port of black people of Hispanic America. Now, in America they gave the name Cimarrones to the African slaves that seeked refuge in the forest to conquer freedom and develop a new society. A society free from slavery and in its territory and towns they were called PALENQUES. The Palenque Free Foundation was founded in the town of San Basilio de Palenque, municipality of Mahates, Bolivar department (in the Colombian Caribbean). Achieved by a group of people that have been working for over 20 years in the defense of the rights of the black communities as an ethnic group. People that have been linked to different organizational dynamics such as: Negritudes, cultural corporation, Cimarron movement among others; that they opted to build an organized, more dynamic, less exclusive process, propitiating inclusion for all and equal conditions.  

The aim

This foundation aims to promote the organization, participation and concentration of black communities, Afro-Colombian, Raizal and palenqueras and defend their rights as an ethnic group, through constant communication and the development of participatory processes of social impact.

Palenque are cradles of freedom and independence in the American continent.

Yenis Reyes a young member of the foundation states that make part of this organization has provided her the opportunity to meet their ethnicity and also auto recognized as an Afro descendant person, providing tools to ensure compliance of their rights and defend a society like considers it “racist ideas” that are manifested through discriminatory actions. Also, she is dedicated to be a guide to other Young people generating true change that lead to create consciousness and respect to the afro community in Cartagena.  

Objectives of the foundation

Several of its objectives to develop are related to the protection, promotion and dissemination of cultural heritage through prevention campaigns, awareness, education and training of the black community. The Afro-Colombian, palenquera and Raizal programs also seek to preserve and rescue the values, custom and identity of the palenquera community.

Close to 50 young people have been benefited to enter college through these study programs.

It also organizes advises, supports and implements events of ethnic, cultural, folk and sporting character. Also studies the needs and concerns of black Afro-Colombian Community, palenquera, and raizal in order to assist in the search for solutions. At the present moment, the foundation has community projection programs such as: Leadership training and building citizenship, boost the ethno education and Afro-Colombian Studies, advice on economic and social development to the community on projects that is intended improve their quality of life. Also seeking opportunities for young African descent who do not have the same opportunities due to the inequality that is given through the Colombian Caribbean, for it drives the achievement of college scholarships for young Afro-Colombians. [caption id="attachment_4367" align="aligncenter" width="996"] Fundación Palenque Libre © Solkes[/caption] On the other hand, Rusmery Herazo Reyes, legal representative of the foundation recognizes that they don’t have their own headquarters nor necessary tolos to realice a lot of their activities such as training schools that are done in the terraces of some of the members including her house or given the case in education facilities in the city of Cartagena. Even in the midst of all these missing the foundation insists on further progress and continue to grow with the firm intention to support and promote organizational, social, educational and cultural processes in the settlements of communities, Blacks, Afro-Colombian, Palenqueras and Raizales in the department of Bolivar. Also looking, strong support of institutions or people with a good heart who decide to be part of this initiative born with the firm intention of creating equality and opportunity in the Colombian Caribbean.]]>