My name is Arelys Montalvo and I live in Tuchín, Córdoba. I was born and raised here,and it’s where I have built my family. I belong to the Zenú ethnic group and come from afamily closely linked to the development of traditional caña flecha palm fibercraftsmanship. I have always been involved in community and educational processes, but it was with the arrival of FUNDAEC’s Preparation for Social Action (PSA) program that. I began a different path—one that was more organized and purposeful. PSA arrived around 2006, just as the first groups were beginning to form in my region. At the time, I had finished high school, was newly married, and had completed a basic vocational training program offered in my area. I didn’t see many opportunities to continue my studies or start something on my own, but PSA opened a door that not only allowed me to continue my education, but also transformed the way I viewed life, work, and my role in the community.
What at first seemed like just an educational program ended up opening many doors.After completing PSA, I was invited to accompany new groups, and little by little I began to take on more responsibilities—first as an assistant tutor, then as a coordinator, and later as part of the regional team. During that time, I also completed the Technical Program in the Administration of Local Economies and the Supporting Community Leaders Program, both offered by FUNDAEC.
I currently serve as director of the Foundation for the Social, Educational, and Cultural Development of the Communities of Sucre and Córdoba (FEDESSCO), whichemerged—through FUNDAEC’s support—from nearly 20 years of training and learning in our region through the PSA program. I also continue to work in caña flechacraftsmanship, a trade I learned as a child from my parents. Today, I work with a group of over ten families from my community in a workshop we have organized together, which I also support with financial guidance. FUNDAEC’s programs have had a very tangible impact on my life. They have provided me with a well-rounded education—technical, administrative, and human. Thanks to them, I’ve been able to better manage my family’s finances, plan short- and long-term goals with my husband, and support our children’s education in a more intentional way. FUNDAEC has helped me understand the value of consultation, collective work, analyzing our reality, and serving the community as ways to build a more coherent and sustainable life. It has also deepened my appreciation for staying rooted in my territory. Ihaven’t had to migrate to access opportunities—I’ve been able to study, work, start abusiness, and serve right from my community.
My greatest motivation is for more young people to have a similar experience—to find ineducation a tool to grow, to serve, and to contribute to local development. In every community I accompany, in every group that starts, I see the potential for new stories, new initiatives, and new paths toward progress.
I always say that FUNDAEC has been my home, my school, and my path. From here, I will continue working—with joy and responsibility—for a stronger, more organized community, more aware of its own potential.
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