July 30, 2025 • 21 mins
Better futures are built deep in the mountains of Colombia, where teenagers like Sandra once made a treacherous daily journey down mountain trails to collect unsafe water to drink. Thanks to transformative programs in Colombia serving 46 families, she's attending school instead of carrying heavy water jugs, and local doctors report significantly improved health outcomes throughout the community. Sandra’s transformation exemplifies the sustainable community development approach we explore in Colombia – where solving one critical need creates ripple effects across education, health, and economic opportunity.
We explore powerful stories of communities transitioning from production of forced illegal crops to thriving farms. These same communities now produce export-quality blackberries, eliminating exploitative middlemen and creating legitimate livelihoods that transform not just present communities but future generations' possibilities.
We also visit a remarkable entrepreneurial school where students like Yohan create their own businesses complete with secret recipes, custom packaging, and marketing plans. These schools function as business laboratories where students develop the skills to achieve economic independence. When communities, local governments, and supporting organizations all bring something to the table, sustainable change becomes not just possible but inevitable. Join us as we continue to explore how going beyond immediate relief creates lasting transformation for generations to come.
Beyond The Plate is a podcast by international charity, Food For The Poor
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
Life was not easy.
The water situation was verydifficult.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
A young woman's treacherous trek for water and a
school for children who dreambig.
Speaker 1 (00:14):
This is my first business.
I'm learning accounting andsmall business.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
This is food for the poor, but we're not just food.
Speaker 4 (00:23):
We go beyond the plate to discuss a full range of
development programs, alldesigned to break the cycle of
poverty by empowering peoplewith the tools and training they
need to transform their livesfor generations to come.
These stories will inspire youand, best of all, you can be
part of the change that takesplace.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
Join us as we go beyond the plate.
Welcome to Beyond the Plate aFood for the Poor podcast.
I'm your co-host, paul.
Speaker 4 (00:46):
Jacobs, that's right, and I'm Daniel Patino, and
today we're heading to Colombia.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
You said that with a little bit of an emphasis I am
because I have some roots there.
That's right.
Speaker 4 (00:56):
Family is from Colombia and you never leave
right your roots and you'realways tied to them my heart and
.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
And also where sustainable community is
happening right now yeah, we'retalking about where a place
where families, neighbors,community leaders, even the
youth, all bring something tothe table for the purpose of
helping them towards aself-sustainable future, and
that's just not just adefinition.
(01:23):
We're going to really get anddive into what that really means
to people in Colombia.
Speaker 4 (01:29):
That's right.
And joining us today are twofriends.
We're going to call themfriends and you've seen both of
you, actually seen firsthandwhat Food for the Poor does.
We're talking with DavidLangell, our regional program
manager, and Ian Wood, directorof studio production, who've
been behind the cameras foralmost two decades capturing
stories across Latin America andthe Caribbean, and is also
where Food for the Poor servesthe least of these.
(01:53):
So we want to talk aboutsustainable community
development, and that's a bigword.
I'm just going to go throughthat not to confuse anybody.
And it's just a big word to saywhat we say around here at Food
for the Poor it's to help yourneighbor, help, uh, others, with
a hand up, not a hand out.
You know, and today we're goingto dive into that, food for the
poor has 10 focus areas in oursustainable community
development program and if youwant to know all about them,
(02:15):
subscribe to our channel.
But we go deep into all of them, but today, uh, we're focusing
on a few and and the peoplewhose lives they've impacted.
Now, don't, don't give me stats, don't give me numbers.
Tell me something from really,your heart.
What is it?
When you visited some of thesecommunities while in Colombia.
What told you?
This is working.
Speaker 5 (02:31):
But, danny, like you, I'm half Colombian, so it's
very near and dear to me to beable to give back to my roots as
well through the work that wedo at Food for the Poor.
From what I've seen, evenbeyond just doing the projects
and I've lived in the countryand so I've really become
accustomed to the culture of thepeople, and I think that's I do
(02:52):
want to start there.
The hospitality and Ian can addto this as well the hospitality
that the people give is like noother, and I think this is
maybe tied so strong to thelatin america roots that that
hospitality is there.
They welcome people into theircommunity.
I'm me myself, you know, as as aregional program manager, I'm
(03:13):
taking notes like okay, theyseem organized, they're
welcoming this opportunity.
Right, we're, we're a guest.
We're not here to tell themwhat to do.
We understand their challengesor difficulties, but we also
want to hear their thoughts,their input, understand their
struggles, understand theirlifestyle and see if there's
(03:35):
something that can be done.
And that's pretty much been theapproach for everything that we
do, and I mean not justColumbia, but the other
countries that we work in aswell, I mean not just Colombia
but the other countries that wework in as well.
Speaker 4 (03:44):
And then, Ian, you saw that a little different,
because you're capturing thisthrough your eyes, which are
kind of your production eyesright, which is your behind the
camera kind of deal.
David will look at the numbers,but you look at it in a
different way.
What's something that stood outwhen you landed in Colombia
that you're like OK, this isjust not another trip and I'm
actually joining.
Speaker 3 (04:02):
Yeah, I have to say the hospitality was amazing.
You know, like David was saying, from the moment that we
arrived, everybody was sofriendly and so eager to show us
like the projects that they'vebeen working on.
So I travel a lot with Food forthe Poor.
For about 10 years I was in thefield almost all the time and
Paul and I have been to Haitiand Guatemala like 20, 30 times,
(04:23):
I'm not even sure.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
Many camera shots, many camera takes.
Speaker 3 (04:29):
Yes, yeah, and usually I'm on the other side.
I'm on the other side of thecamera and I'm filming Paul or
whoever else.
Is like speaking on camera,telling the stories of people.
Everywhere we went, thechildren were like excited, they
were happy, they're smiling,they're ambitious, like we have
a lot of amazing stories to tellabout how these children's
lives were transformed.
So there are the basic needsthat you have, like water.
You know food, that food forthe poor addresses, and then you
(04:50):
want to break the cycle ofpoverty, so it's about
empowering them.
So we'll also talk about theentrepreneurial spirit.
You know how it's thriving withthese children.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
Now, ian, give us.
You know, and we've been, asyou said, we've been in so many
communities.
We've seen things in Haiti,we've been together in Nicaragua
, We've been in places likeGuatemala, honduras, but you
have to find a way to conveythis through a lens of a camera
and the story, so that peoplesee self-sustainability.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
So David did a wonderful job of setting this
all up, and before we even went,we're talking, he's saying hey,
I want to take you to thesedifferent locations and show you
what's happening here, and thisis why I think it would be a
great story to tell.
So we went to a remotecommunity in Colombia that was
in desperate need of water.
The family we intended tointerview wasn't home, so we had
to pivot and we met anotherfamily and a young lady named
(05:43):
Sandra, and what she had toendure to get water every day
was almost unbelievable.
Speaker 1 (05:52):
We had to walk very far down the mountain, taking
lots of risks.
There were lots of bugs.
We often had to walk very fardown the mountain, taking lots
of risks.
There were lots of bugs.
We often had to go barefootcarrying water buckets to fill
up.
We also brought a wash tub towash dishes and clothes.
Speaker 3 (06:10):
What she had been doing for most of her life was
going to fetch water everymorning, sometimes in the dark
or at dawn.
Her responsibility and she hadshe's such a responsible person,
like you can tell she's takencare of the family, she's taking
care of the little ones, and sowhat she had to do when she
took us on this journey was togo fetch the water every single
(06:30):
day.
So we walked with her on thisday and you're walking through
the mountains and it's thiswinding, dirt trail, trail, and
then it goes into the jungle andthen you go down and there's
this stream that runs throughthe jungle.
It's absolutely beautiful.
It's so picturesque, but alsothis water isn't safe, but it's
like the only water they haveaccess to, so they're gonna
drink it anyways and the kidsget sick often.
(06:53):
Um, she has to carry all thisback.
Like on this day, everybody wasexcited that we were there, so
we had a group going with us andthe little ones were bathing in
the water, but sometimes shedoes that all by herself and
she's carrying these, you know,big jugs, everything she can
carry she's bringing back to thehouse.
So the family has water.
And she's young, right?
Yeah, young teen, you know, andand this is depriving her to
(07:15):
some degree, this is deprivingher of her youth when we were
walking back with sandra andeverybody's carrying all the
water they can, and I'm justsweating, like, trying to keep
up with them and film you know,but, um, you know, for them it
was a daily thing and for forlike, if you're not used to that
, it's like, wow, this is hot,it's heavy, like, and they do it
all the time.
And so then when you get backto the community, you can see
(07:37):
the project that's just beencompleted.
It's this beautiful water tower.
It's like a monument to howtheir lives are changing and the
development of this community,because they have a deep well,
pumps it up to the water towerand then there's plumbing that
goes right into all these housesin the community.
This project is amazing.
It'll serve 46 families, sowe're talking about hundreds of
(07:57):
individuals receiving water.
Speaker 1 (07:59):
Just listen to what Sandra had to say this is a
great benefit, not just for myfamily, but for others as well.
They're doing well and theirlives have changed.
Thank you very much.
Speaker 3 (08:28):
David already has reports from the community
medical services that the kidsare healthier.
Thank you very much.
Drinking safe water, the kidsare healthier and then it frees
Sandra and the other kids up togo to school to do other things
rather than just riskingthemselves to go fetch water.
Speaker 4 (08:42):
And you change one thing it was just to give them
water.
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Speaker 4 (09:46):
We're fortunate to have David Elhangle, our
regional program manager, andIan Wood, director of studio
production, here today.
And David, one of theprinciples in this work is that
everyone have we been talkingabout everyone brings something
to the table, and what does thatlook like in Columbia?
We?
Speaker 5 (10:04):
don't want to do everything for you.
We meet us halfway right.
What can you contribute?
What are your assets, what canyou bring to the table?
And that's the ideal scenariothat we hope to always encounter
whenever we do our projectsthat the community is involved,
perhaps a local municipality or,if it goes beyond, maybe the
national government or regionalgovernment, and then there's,
(10:25):
you know, our partners and Foodfor the Park as well, so that
that circle of participation isextremely key and ideal, because
if you have the buy-in of thecommunity, you have the
involvement.
It helps make that projectbecome more sustainable.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
What I love how you just described that.
It's the clear line in the sandbetween charity and community
development.
Speaker 5 (10:47):
Right.
So with economic empowerment,at least where we went to in La
Miranda, cauca, when we weredoing our analysis, our
investigation, we are aware, ok,this community has a lot of
potential.
It's very organized and that'sa huge piece to the larger
puzzle.
And so in this, in this project, the blackberries that we were
(11:08):
mentioning earlier is they'revery well organized.
There is a very tragic historyof this community.
Speaker 2 (11:17):
I think this would be a really good time to kind of
get into that.
If you could just kind of takea little bit of a dovetail into
that, danny, this might resonatewith you perhaps.
Speaker 5 (11:24):
Maybe family wise and maybe myself, even though we
haven't been directly impactedby it.
It's you can say, quote,unquote our people, right?
So Colombia has been in aconflict internal conflict for
50, 60 years, you know,depending on who you ask, 50 or
60 years, at least 50 yearsBloodshed, the war on drugs.
(11:46):
The entire country was affectedand this community particularly
, for decades, has been affectedby a conflict.
And for this community, it wassurrounded by cartels, obviously
(12:06):
not to their own choice.
There was limited opportunities.
During that time, or the pastseveral decades, the only job
opportunities that thesecommunities had really were day
jobs, service, uh type jobs, butit was very informal, right?
So, you're, you're, thesefamilies are earning next to
nothing.
And the fact that you know,okay, they're in this, in this
(12:28):
high risk area, right, theycan't move.
You know it's, it's impossible,they're, they're, they're,
they're in a high-risk area, notof their choice.
And so imagine you have amember of the cartel going up to
the community offering you hey,community, I will give you $150
(12:55):
every week could be be month ifyou grow this product.
What was this product?
This product, unfortunately,was an illegal crop, right lack
of better words marijuana.
Okay, so you have families, dayin and day out, looking to find
any means necessary to put foodon the table for their children
(13:18):
, find ways to send theirchildren to the school, find
just any way, shape or form, tosurvive the current labor market
couldn't offer that.
But then you have anopportunity to earn 150 US
dollars.
That's a huge, huge change.
And so for the familieseveryone that we, a huge, huge
change.
And so for the families,everyone that we spoke with, I
(13:41):
mean they had no choice but tosay yes, because it was one of
those situations where, if youdon't do this, we will come back
and perhaps make things a wholelot worse for you guys.
Speaker 2 (13:52):
Right, it's a forced yes.
There is no alternative otherthan a yes.
Speaker 5 (13:57):
Exactly, yeah.
So for that community, for thelongest time it was all about
survival.
Speaker 4 (14:03):
It's better to be stained with blackberry juice
than marked by blood.
David, how did this remind youof why this mission matters?
Speaker 5 (14:12):
The president said.
The president of the communitysaid that quote.
Okay, he lived through all thisconflict, he's seen it, and so
for him to say that when I heardit it went a long way, that
tragic history, and has now beenconverted to an opportunity of
(14:35):
hope that all future generationsno longer have to experience
what the current generation hasexperienced, that they're
growing into legal crops,blackberries, and I'm sure the
stories will be told by theirparents, grandparents, right,
yeah, but all future generationsare much safer.
(14:56):
You know, thanks to thisproject, one of the biggest
challenges for any farmer inColombia is earning a fair price
for what they cultivate.
Okay, and largely becausethere's a lot of middlemen that
come in and, sure you know, makeit, make an agreement with the
community, we'll pay you forthis much, but then that middle
person charge you know, sells itto the market at 10 times the
(15:19):
amount and we've seen this.
Speaker 2 (15:21):
You, we, you know, ian and I we've traveled to
guatemala.
We've seen this.
Speaker 3 (15:24):
I couldn't help but think of elialu also, where we
saw projects, projects in themountains, and the women up
there, like had their owncooperative and they were
growing export quality produceand that's the key the quality
was so high that they could sellit internationally.
So it's a very high standard.
It's very hard to achieve, butthat's part of what Food for the
Poor does educating the farmerson how to get to that level.
(15:46):
So the crops are worth more.
Speaker 2 (15:47):
And you went to a school and you met a young man
by the name of Johan and thatstory stuck with us.
So why don't you tell ourlisteners a little bit about our
audience, about Johan?
Speaker 3 (15:57):
Again.
The children in Colombia justamaze me.
There were so many there thatwere so ambitious and so excited
about learning.
So we go into the mountains ofColumbia where there's an
entrepreneurial school.
So, like all the kids there,they all want to start their own
businesses and they're learningall the basics.
And we started off by meetingone young man, johan.
He lives on the side of themountain in a house that's made
(16:21):
out of corrugated metal andtarps, dirt floor.
It's very humble but it'sperfectly kept.
Johan and his little sisters,melanie and Valentina.
They get them all dressed up togo to school and then they hike
up the side of this mountainand they do it if it's raining,
it doesn't matter what theconditions are.
They go up the side of themountain, they catch a bus that
takes them to theentrepreneurial school.
So the school is beautiful.
(16:41):
Anything you could ever want tolearn in this area it's, like
all, very applicable to the area.
So they're learning how tocultivate crops, they're
learning animal husbandry, thenthey learn how to run a business
.
So they have regular classes,like you'd have in a school that
any of us might have attended.
But then they apply thatknowledge to like what it would
take to run a local business.
(17:02):
So when you're doing math,you're learning about inventory,
you're learning about sales.
You know you're learning likehow do I apply this to a
business here?
Then they actually take care ofall the animals and the crops
and they have their own products.
And when you go to lunch in thisschool, everything on the table
is stuff that they grew.
They grew it right there andthen they have a storefront
(17:22):
because it's on a highway.
You know where Johan gotdropped off for school and all
his classmates.
They're on a busy highway.
So they open up a shop and theyhave a restaurant and they
serve the people.
And now they're learning how torun a business and how to
interface with clients.
Everybody there has their ownside hustle too.
So they got the school itselfas a business that you're
learning.
And then they have their ownsmall businesses and David got
(17:45):
them all organized and we linethem up and each one of them
takes a step forward and tellsus about their small business
and they're so excited Like theyhave their elevator pitch ready
to like tell you all abouttheir business.
And Johan steps up and he makesenergy bars and he has his own
secret recipe.
Speaker 2 (18:00):
He's so excited about it, he wouldn't share his
recipe, you know, because that'slike yeah, I know, I know
You're going to take it toAmerica and make a million bucks
with it.
I know he's not having that.
That's a secret recipe.
Speaker 3 (18:13):
He does his own packaging, he made his own
labels, he does his marketingand he's ready for business and
they all stepped up and they allhad their own small businesses
that they were working on andthey get to develop them there.
Speaker 1 (18:26):
Thank you very much for helping us.
We are people of limitedresources.
You are helping us so much.
Speaker 3 (18:32):
This is a combination of a school for the local kids
that are ambitious and want togo there, but it's also an
Angels of Hope school.
So that means that you havesome kids that live on the
property like they might nothave a home to go to, and then
some of them might have a homebut it's a long way off and
their parents kind of send themlike what we would understand as
a boarding school.
So it's like we want you to gothere and get those skills
(18:54):
because the kids are excitedabout it and again you're
breaking the cycle of poverty.
Now these kids know how tostart a business or how to
employ other people.
So it's absolutely wonderfuland the enthusiasm that you see
here these kids were absolutelyincredible.
Speaker 4 (19:07):
And those are pretty much those alter your dreams of
doing something in the futureversus a kid that's outside the
walls of that school, thatpretty much don't know if they
can get a meal tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (19:17):
David, I want to go back to you for a moment and
just talk about some of themisconceptions that take place.
What do we need to understandabout really the life cycle, or
the longevity, or the timeframeit takes to do this?
Speaker 5 (19:31):
So Paul, great question.
It's not easy.
In layman's terms, it's noteasy.
It's not a quick fix, it's not,you know, to transform an
entire community or even severalcommunities.
A year's not enough, six monthsis not enough, two years is not
enough, three years is notenough.
Three years is not enough.
And so, really, it boils down tothe investigation that needs to
(19:52):
be done, and sure, we find whatthe most important needs are
and we have our main focus areasthat we attend to, but we also
are aware that we're not goingto be there forever.
We want to get to a point wherethe community, once we do our
number of interventions, it getsto a level where, okay,
(20:14):
community, based on everythingthat we've done and we've seen
through data and numbers andthrough hearing what you all
think, we believe that you'reready, you don't need us anymore
.
That's the game plan.
That you don't need food forthe poor anymore, because we've
got to a level where you and thecommunity and for the next
(20:34):
generations are sustainable.
Right, that's the end game.
That's what we want to arriveat.
If I could say I wish my jobdidn't exist, if my job didn't
exist, there'd be no poverty.
Guess what that's?
Speaker 2 (20:49):
why we're here.
Thank you truly for being heretoday, because I think that you
have given a voice to so many inColumbia that will no longer
remain voiceless.
I love it.
On that note, fist bump, thankyou guys.
But on that note, fist bump,thank you guys.
Speaker 4 (21:10):
Hey everyone, thanks for listening to Beyond the
Plate.
We love having you here.
Keep up with us on Instagramand TikTok at
beyondtheplatepodcast, and, ifyou enjoy the show, don't forget
to subscribe to our YouTubechannel and give our videos a
like.
Just search Food for the PoorBeyond the.
Speaker 2 (21:27):
Plate.
Your support means the world tous All.
Speaker 4 (21:31):
right, folks, we'll see you on the next Beyond the
Plate episode.
I'm waving.
Life was not easy.
The water situation was verydifficult.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
A young woman's treacherous trek for water and a
school for children who dreambig.
Speaker 1 (00:14):
This is my first business.
I'm learning accounting andsmall business.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
This is food for the poor, but we're not just food.
Speaker 4 (00:23):
We go beyond the plate to discuss a full range of
development programs, alldesigned to break the cycle of
poverty by empowering peoplewith the tools and training they
need to transform their livesfor generations to come.
These stories will inspire youand, best of all, you can be
part of the change that takesplace.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
Join us as we go beyond the plate.
Welcome to Beyond the Plate aFood for the Poor podcast.
I'm your co-host, paul.
Speaker 4 (00:46):
Jacobs, that's right, and I'm Daniel Patino, and
today we're heading to Colombia.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
You said that with a little bit of an emphasis I am
because I have some roots there.
That's right.
Speaker 4 (00:56):
Family is from Colombia and you never leave
right your roots and you'realways tied to them my heart and
.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
And also where sustainable community is
happening right now yeah, we'retalking about where a place
where families, neighbors,community leaders, even the
youth, all bring something tothe table for the purpose of
helping them towards aself-sustainable future, and
that's just not just adefinition.
(01:23):
We're going to really get anddive into what that really means
to people in Colombia.
Speaker 4 (01:29):
That's right.
And joining us today are twofriends.
We're going to call themfriends and you've seen both of
you, actually seen firsthandwhat Food for the Poor does.
We're talking with DavidLangell, our regional program
manager, and Ian Wood, directorof studio production, who've
been behind the cameras foralmost two decades capturing
stories across Latin America andthe Caribbean, and is also
where Food for the Poor servesthe least of these.
(01:53):
So we want to talk aboutsustainable community
development, and that's a bigword.
I'm just going to go throughthat not to confuse anybody.
And it's just a big word to saywhat we say around here at Food
for the Poor it's to help yourneighbor, help, uh, others, with
a hand up, not a hand out.
You know, and today we're goingto dive into that, food for the
poor has 10 focus areas in oursustainable community
development program and if youwant to know all about them,
(02:15):
subscribe to our channel.
But we go deep into all of them, but today, uh, we're focusing
on a few and and the peoplewhose lives they've impacted.
Now, don't, don't give me stats, don't give me numbers.
Tell me something from really,your heart.
What is it?
When you visited some of thesecommunities while in Colombia.
What told you?
This is working.
Speaker 5 (02:31):
But, danny, like you, I'm half Colombian, so it's
very near and dear to me to beable to give back to my roots as
well through the work that wedo at Food for the Poor.
From what I've seen, evenbeyond just doing the projects
and I've lived in the countryand so I've really become
accustomed to the culture of thepeople, and I think that's I do
(02:52):
want to start there.
The hospitality and Ian can addto this as well the hospitality
that the people give is like noother, and I think this is
maybe tied so strong to thelatin america roots that that
hospitality is there.
They welcome people into theircommunity.
I'm me myself, you know, as as aregional program manager, I'm
(03:13):
taking notes like okay, theyseem organized, they're
welcoming this opportunity.
Right, we're, we're a guest.
We're not here to tell themwhat to do.
We understand their challengesor difficulties, but we also
want to hear their thoughts,their input, understand their
struggles, understand theirlifestyle and see if there's
(03:35):
something that can be done.
And that's pretty much been theapproach for everything that we
do, and I mean not justColumbia, but the other
countries that we work in aswell, I mean not just Colombia
but the other countries that wework in as well.
Speaker 4 (03:44):
And then, Ian, you saw that a little different,
because you're capturing thisthrough your eyes, which are
kind of your production eyesright, which is your behind the
camera kind of deal.
David will look at the numbers,but you look at it in a
different way.
What's something that stood outwhen you landed in Colombia
that you're like OK, this isjust not another trip and I'm
actually joining.
Speaker 3 (04:02):
Yeah, I have to say the hospitality was amazing.
You know, like David was saying, from the moment that we
arrived, everybody was sofriendly and so eager to show us
like the projects that they'vebeen working on.
So I travel a lot with Food forthe Poor.
For about 10 years I was in thefield almost all the time and
Paul and I have been to Haitiand Guatemala like 20, 30 times,
(04:23):
I'm not even sure.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
Many camera shots, many camera takes.
Speaker 3 (04:29):
Yes, yeah, and usually I'm on the other side.
I'm on the other side of thecamera and I'm filming Paul or
whoever else.
Is like speaking on camera,telling the stories of people.
Everywhere we went, thechildren were like excited, they
were happy, they're smiling,they're ambitious, like we have
a lot of amazing stories to tellabout how these children's
lives were transformed.
So there are the basic needsthat you have, like water.
You know food, that food forthe poor addresses, and then you
(04:50):
want to break the cycle ofpoverty, so it's about
empowering them.
So we'll also talk about theentrepreneurial spirit.
You know how it's thriving withthese children.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
Now, ian, give us.
You know, and we've been, asyou said, we've been in so many
communities.
We've seen things in Haiti,we've been together in Nicaragua
, We've been in places likeGuatemala, honduras, but you
have to find a way to conveythis through a lens of a camera
and the story, so that peoplesee self-sustainability.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
So David did a wonderful job of setting this
all up, and before we even went,we're talking, he's saying hey,
I want to take you to thesedifferent locations and show you
what's happening here, and thisis why I think it would be a
great story to tell.
So we went to a remotecommunity in Colombia that was
in desperate need of water.
The family we intended tointerview wasn't home, so we had
to pivot and we met anotherfamily and a young lady named
(05:43):
Sandra, and what she had toendure to get water every day
was almost unbelievable.
Speaker 1 (05:52):
We had to walk very far down the mountain, taking
lots of risks.
There were lots of bugs.
We often had to walk very fardown the mountain, taking lots
of risks.
There were lots of bugs.
We often had to go barefootcarrying water buckets to fill
up.
We also brought a wash tub towash dishes and clothes.
Speaker 3 (06:10):
What she had been doing for most of her life was
going to fetch water everymorning, sometimes in the dark
or at dawn.
Her responsibility and she hadshe's such a responsible person,
like you can tell she's takencare of the family, she's taking
care of the little ones, and sowhat she had to do when she
took us on this journey was togo fetch the water every single
(06:30):
day.
So we walked with her on thisday and you're walking through
the mountains and it's thiswinding, dirt trail, trail, and
then it goes into the jungle andthen you go down and there's
this stream that runs throughthe jungle.
It's absolutely beautiful.
It's so picturesque, but alsothis water isn't safe, but it's
like the only water they haveaccess to, so they're gonna
drink it anyways and the kidsget sick often.
(06:53):
Um, she has to carry all thisback.
Like on this day, everybody wasexcited that we were there, so
we had a group going with us andthe little ones were bathing in
the water, but sometimes shedoes that all by herself and
she's carrying these, you know,big jugs, everything she can
carry she's bringing back to thehouse.
So the family has water.
And she's young, right?
Yeah, young teen, you know, andand this is depriving her to
(07:15):
some degree, this is deprivingher of her youth when we were
walking back with sandra andeverybody's carrying all the
water they can, and I'm justsweating, like, trying to keep
up with them and film you know,but, um, you know, for them it
was a daily thing and for forlike, if you're not used to that
, it's like, wow, this is hot,it's heavy, like, and they do it
all the time.
And so then when you get backto the community, you can see
(07:37):
the project that's just beencompleted.
It's this beautiful water tower.
It's like a monument to howtheir lives are changing and the
development of this community,because they have a deep well,
pumps it up to the water towerand then there's plumbing that
goes right into all these housesin the community.
This project is amazing.
It'll serve 46 families, sowe're talking about hundreds of
(07:57):
individuals receiving water.
Speaker 1 (07:59):
Just listen to what Sandra had to say this is a
great benefit, not just for myfamily, but for others as well.
They're doing well and theirlives have changed.
Thank you very much.
Speaker 3 (08:28):
David already has reports from the community
medical services that the kidsare healthier.
Thank you very much.
Drinking safe water, the kidsare healthier and then it frees
Sandra and the other kids up togo to school to do other things
rather than just riskingthemselves to go fetch water.
Speaker 4 (08:42):
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Speaker 4 (09:46):
We're fortunate to have David Elhangle, our
regional program manager, andIan Wood, director of studio
production, here today.
And David, one of theprinciples in this work is that
everyone have we been talkingabout everyone brings something
to the table, and what does thatlook like in Columbia?
We?
Speaker 5 (10:04):
don't want to do everything for you.
We meet us halfway right.
What can you contribute?
What are your assets, what canyou bring to the table?
And that's the ideal scenariothat we hope to always encounter
whenever we do our projectsthat the community is involved,
perhaps a local municipality or,if it goes beyond, maybe the
national government or regionalgovernment, and then there's,
(10:25):
you know, our partners and Foodfor the Park as well, so that
that circle of participation isextremely key and ideal, because
if you have the buy-in of thecommunity, you have the
involvement.
It helps make that projectbecome more sustainable.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
What I love how you just described that.
It's the clear line in the sandbetween charity and community
development.
Speaker 5 (10:47):
Right.
So with economic empowerment,at least where we went to in La
Miranda, cauca, when we weredoing our analysis, our
investigation, we are aware, ok,this community has a lot of
potential.
It's very organized and that'sa huge piece to the larger
puzzle.
And so in this, in this project, the blackberries that we were
(11:08):
mentioning earlier is they'revery well organized.
There is a very tragic historyof this community.
Speaker 2 (11:17):
I think this would be a really good time to kind of
get into that.
If you could just kind of takea little bit of a dovetail into
that, danny, this might resonatewith you perhaps.
Speaker 5 (11:24):
Maybe family wise and maybe myself, even though we
haven't been directly impactedby it.
It's you can say, quote,unquote our people, right?
So Colombia has been in aconflict internal conflict for
50, 60 years, you know,depending on who you ask, 50 or
60 years, at least 50 yearsBloodshed, the war on drugs.
(11:46):
The entire country was affectedand this community particularly
, for decades, has been affectedby a conflict.
And for this community, it wassurrounded by cartels, obviously
(12:06):
not to their own choice.
There was limited opportunities.
During that time, or the pastseveral decades, the only job
opportunities that thesecommunities had really were day
jobs, service, uh type jobs, butit was very informal, right?
So, you're, you're, thesefamilies are earning next to
nothing.
And the fact that you know,okay, they're in this, in this
(12:28):
high risk area, right, theycan't move.
You know it's, it's impossible,they're, they're, they're,
they're in a high-risk area, notof their choice.
And so imagine you have amember of the cartel going up to
the community offering you hey,community, I will give you $150
(12:55):
every week could be be month ifyou grow this product.
What was this product?
This product, unfortunately,was an illegal crop, right lack
of better words marijuana.
Okay, so you have families, dayin and day out, looking to find
any means necessary to put foodon the table for their children
(13:18):
, find ways to send theirchildren to the school, find
just any way, shape or form, tosurvive the current labor market
couldn't offer that.
But then you have anopportunity to earn 150 US
dollars.
That's a huge, huge change.
And so for the familieseveryone that we, a huge, huge
change.
And so for the families,everyone that we spoke with, I
(13:41):
mean they had no choice but tosay yes, because it was one of
those situations where, if youdon't do this, we will come back
and perhaps make things a wholelot worse for you guys.
Speaker 2 (13:52):
Right, it's a forced yes.
There is no alternative otherthan a yes.
Speaker 5 (13:57):
Exactly, yeah.
So for that community, for thelongest time it was all about
survival.
Speaker 4 (14:03):
It's better to be stained with blackberry juice
than marked by blood.
David, how did this remind youof why this mission matters?
Speaker 5 (14:12):
The president said.
The president of the communitysaid that quote.
Okay, he lived through all thisconflict, he's seen it, and so
for him to say that when I heardit it went a long way, that
tragic history, and has now beenconverted to an opportunity of
(14:35):
hope that all future generationsno longer have to experience
what the current generation hasexperienced, that they're
growing into legal crops,blackberries, and I'm sure the
stories will be told by theirparents, grandparents, right,
yeah, but all future generationsare much safer.
(14:56):
You know, thanks to thisproject, one of the biggest
challenges for any farmer inColombia is earning a fair price
for what they cultivate.
Okay, and largely becausethere's a lot of middlemen that
come in and, sure you know, makeit, make an agreement with the
community, we'll pay you forthis much, but then that middle
person charge you know, sells itto the market at 10 times the
(15:19):
amount and we've seen this.
Speaker 2 (15:21):
You, we, you know, ian and I we've traveled to
guatemala.
We've seen this.
Speaker 3 (15:24):
I couldn't help but think of elialu also, where we
saw projects, projects in themountains, and the women up
there, like had their owncooperative and they were
growing export quality produceand that's the key the quality
was so high that they could sellit internationally.
So it's a very high standard.
It's very hard to achieve, butthat's part of what Food for the
Poor does educating the farmerson how to get to that level.
(15:46):
So the crops are worth more.
Speaker 2 (15:47):
And you went to a school and you met a young man
by the name of Johan and thatstory stuck with us.
So why don't you tell ourlisteners a little bit about our
audience, about Johan?
Speaker 3 (15:57):
Again.
The children in Colombia justamaze me.
There were so many there thatwere so ambitious and so excited
about learning.
So we go into the mountains ofColumbia where there's an
entrepreneurial school.
So, like all the kids there,they all want to start their own
businesses and they're learningall the basics.
And we started off by meetingone young man, johan.
He lives on the side of themountain in a house that's made
(16:21):
out of corrugated metal andtarps, dirt floor.
It's very humble but it'sperfectly kept.
Johan and his little sisters,melanie and Valentina.
They get them all dressed up togo to school and then they hike
up the side of this mountainand they do it if it's raining,
it doesn't matter what theconditions are.
They go up the side of themountain, they catch a bus that
takes them to theentrepreneurial school.
So the school is beautiful.
(16:41):
Anything you could ever want tolearn in this area it's, like
all, very applicable to the area.
So they're learning how tocultivate crops, they're
learning animal husbandry, thenthey learn how to run a business
.
So they have regular classes,like you'd have in a school that
any of us might have attended.
But then they apply thatknowledge to like what it would
take to run a local business.
(17:02):
So when you're doing math,you're learning about inventory,
you're learning about sales.
You know you're learning likehow do I apply this to a
business here?
Then they actually take care ofall the animals and the crops
and they have their own products.
And when you go to lunch in thisschool, everything on the table
is stuff that they grew.
They grew it right there andthen they have a storefront
(17:22):
because it's on a highway.
You know where Johan gotdropped off for school and all
his classmates.
They're on a busy highway.
So they open up a shop and theyhave a restaurant and they
serve the people.
And now they're learning how torun a business and how to
interface with clients.
Everybody there has their ownside hustle too.
So they got the school itselfas a business that you're
learning.
And then they have their ownsmall businesses and David got
(17:45):
them all organized and we linethem up and each one of them
takes a step forward and tellsus about their small business
and they're so excited Like theyhave their elevator pitch ready
to like tell you all abouttheir business.
And Johan steps up and he makesenergy bars and he has his own
secret recipe.
Speaker 2 (18:00):
He's so excited about it, he wouldn't share his
recipe, you know, because that'slike yeah, I know, I know
You're going to take it toAmerica and make a million bucks
with it.
I know he's not having that.
That's a secret recipe.
Speaker 3 (18:13):
He does his own packaging, he made his own
labels, he does his marketingand he's ready for business and
they all stepped up and they allhad their own small businesses
that they were working on andthey get to develop them there.
Speaker 1 (18:26):
Thank you very much for helping us.
We are people of limitedresources.
You are helping us so much.
Speaker 3 (18:32):
This is a combination of a school for the local kids
that are ambitious and want togo there, but it's also an
Angels of Hope school.
So that means that you havesome kids that live on the
property like they might nothave a home to go to, and then
some of them might have a homebut it's a long way off and
their parents kind of send themlike what we would understand as
a boarding school.
So it's like we want you to gothere and get those skills
(18:54):
because the kids are excitedabout it and again you're
breaking the cycle of poverty.
Now these kids know how tostart a business or how to
employ other people.
So it's absolutely wonderfuland the enthusiasm that you see
here these kids were absolutelyincredible.
Speaker 4 (19:07):
And those are pretty much those alter your dreams of
doing something in the futureversus a kid that's outside the
walls of that school, thatpretty much don't know if they
can get a meal tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (19:17):
David, I want to go back to you for a moment and
just talk about some of themisconceptions that take place.
What do we need to understandabout really the life cycle, or
the longevity, or the timeframeit takes to do this?
Speaker 5 (19:31):
So Paul, great question.
It's not easy.
In layman's terms, it's noteasy.
It's not a quick fix, it's not,you know, to transform an
entire community or even severalcommunities.
A year's not enough, six monthsis not enough, two years is not
enough, three years is notenough.
Three years is not enough.
And so, really, it boils down tothe investigation that needs to
(19:52):
be done, and sure, we find whatthe most important needs are
and we have our main focus areasthat we attend to, but we also
are aware that we're not goingto be there forever.
We want to get to a point wherethe community, once we do our
number of interventions, it getsto a level where, okay,
(20:14):
community, based on everythingthat we've done and we've seen
through data and numbers andthrough hearing what you all
think, we believe that you'reready, you don't need us anymore
.
That's the game plan.
That you don't need food forthe poor anymore, because we've
got to a level where you and thecommunity and for the next
(20:34):
generations are sustainable.
Right, that's the end game.
That's what we want to arriveat.
If I could say I wish my jobdidn't exist, if my job didn't
exist, there'd be no poverty.
Guess what that's?
Speaker 2 (20:49):
why we're here.
Thank you truly for being heretoday, because I think that you
have given a voice to so many inColumbia that will no longer
remain voiceless.
I love it.
On that note, fist bump, thankyou guys.
But on that note, fist bump,thank you guys.
Speaker 4 (21:10):
Hey everyone, thanks for listening to Beyond the
Plate.
We love having you here.
Keep up with us on Instagramand TikTok at
beyondtheplatepodcast, and, ifyou enjoy the show, don't forget
to subscribe to our YouTubechannel and give our videos a
like.
Just search Food for the PoorBeyond the.
Speaker 2 (21:27):
Plate.
Your support means the world tous All.
Speaker 4 (21:31):
right, folks, we'll see you on the next Beyond the
Plate episode.
I'm waving.
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