Fighting Poverty in Colombia

Poverty Continues

to Impact Families
Across Colombia

36.6%

Poverty
Rate

14 million Colombians are unable to meet their basic needs for food or shelter.

6%

Extreme Poverty
Rate

3.7 million people struggle to survive on less than $1.90 a day.

12.7%

Malnutrition
Rate

3.6 million children are at risk of stunted growth and cognitive impairement.

$335

Monthly Minimum
wage

Insufficient wages for people to afford basic needs.

Political Instability

Colombia ranks among the nations with the most pronounced income inequality globally. This stark imbalance in the distribution of wealth and earnings translates into restricted access to resources and opportunities for a substantial portion of the population. Additionally, improper practices across various levels of society can divert resources away from those most in need, exacerbating disparities in access to essential services.

Political Instability

Natural Disasters

Natural Disasters

Natural disasters pose a threat to the health, safety, and shelter of thousands of people in Colombia, particularly in the poorest and most vulnerable parts of the country. Crops, factories, and businesses are also at risk. These challenges make disaster preparedness and emergency management planning essential.

Natural Disasters

Natural disasters pose a threat to the health, safety, and shelter of thousands of people in Colombia, particularly in the poorest and most vulnerable parts of the country. Crops, factories, and businesses are also at risk. These challenges make disaster preparedness and emergency management planning essential.

Natural Disasters

Food Insecurity

In regions of Colombia marked by a legacy of armed conflict, rural communities frequently grapple with food insecurity. The turmoil associated with conflict disrupts agricultural activities, forces displacement from homes, and fosters an atmosphere of instability, all of which combine to hinder residents' access to an adequate amount of healthy, nutritious food.

Food Insecurity

How We Support

Families and Communities

in Colombia

Beyond the Plate Episode 1

Empowering

Colombia's Journey
Out of Poverty

Since 1982, Food For The Poor has actively fought the causes of poverty in Latin America and the Caribbean. Recognizing the urgent need for transformation, we have developed programs that go beyond immediate relief. Through community development outreach and fostering self-reliance, we provide sustainable solutions. Join us in funding these programs to turn despair into resilience, promoting health, self-reliance, and breaking the cycle of poverty with simple, effective ideas that work.

Food Assistance

Food For The Poor works tirelessly to combat hunger and malnutrition by providing essential food supplies to vulnerable communities. Through strategic partnerships and community engagement, we ensure nutritious meals reach those most in need, improving their overall health and well-being.

Home Assistance

Our home assistance program is focused on cost - effectiveness and agility. In a very short time span, we are able to build a home for $12,300 in a place where sourcing contruction materials is difficult and expensive. The program targets displaced population and families at risk. We keep striving to improve the performance of this program.

Education

We're committed to providing access to quality education by constructing and supporting schools and equipping classrooms with essential supplies. Through this pillar, Food For The Poor aims to break the cycle of poverty by empowering children with knowledge and skills, fostering their intellectual growth, and opening doors to a brighter future.

Malnutrition

Through strategic partnerships and community engagement, Food For The Poor strives to improve nutritional outcomes, enhance food security, and promote the overall health and well-being of Colombians. We implement comprehensive programs focusing on nutrition education, access to nutrient-rich food, and health care interventions to address the root causes of malnutrition.

Health

We work to strengthen health care infrastructure, provide medical supplies and equipment and support health education initiatives. Through partnerships with local health care providers and community engagement, Food For The Poor aims to enhance primary health care services, reduce the prevalence of diseases.

Micro - Enterprise

Food For The Poor empowers individuals and communities through sustainable economic opportunities. We provide entrepreneurs with training, resources, and support to establish and expand their small businesses. Through this pillar, Food For The Poor is transforming lives, promoting economic independence, and paving the way for a brighter future in Colombia.

TOGETHER, We Can
Break The Poverty Cycle

Make a meaningful impact in the lives of Colombian families. Fund our operations so we can provide hunger and poverty relief assistance. Together, we can empower families to become self-sufficient and build stronger communities through sustainable development.

Take Action Now

Colombia Highlights

Empowering Communities
Through Sustainable Programs

2025

Food For The Poor delivered $1,133,754 in humanitarian aid to Colombia.
Water: Began the Safe Drinking Water for Aricaporo project, restoring access to clean drinking water through a new deep well and solar-powered treatment system.
Education:Completed the Santa Cecilia Boarding School Remodeling and Expansion Project, improving classrooms, student housing, furniture, and learning spaces.
Community Health: Provided hygiene education and safe water infrastructure to help reduce waterborne illnesses and improve long-term community health.

2024

Food For The Poor delivered $1,244,652 in humanitarian aid to Colombia.
Housing: Partnered with local organizations to build sustainable, climate-friendly homes for families in Sucre.
Mobility:Continued its partnership with Free Wheelchair Mission, helping deliver durable wheelchairs to individuals with disabilities throughout Colombia.
Community Development: Invested in long-term housing solutions that improve safety, resilience, and quality of life for vulnerable families.

2023

Food For The Poor sent 12 containers of aid to Colombia in 2023.
Access to Safe Water: 100 families in La Niata village, Yopal municipality, now has safe drinking water and improved health conditions, thanks to a solar-powered water system.
Housing: Fifteen families from Buenos Aires village in Villanueva municipality have seen improvements in their housing conditions, including new floors, sanitation facilities, room extensions, and kitchen spaces.
Shrimp Farming: Partnering with CODESPA, 200 small farming families in Miranda, Cauca, and Tumaco, Nariño, increased their income. In Tumaco, shrimp farms benefited 150 associates with a 33% income rise, while in Miranda, 50 producers linked to local markets saw a 40% income boost through raspberry cultivation across 36 plots. These efforts involved microcredits, capacity building, and strengthening value chains between raspberries and shrimp, along with securing commercial agreements with private companies.
Women in Business: 230 businesswomen in the Buenaventura region were equipped with essential business tools, received training in best practices, gained financial education, received seed capital, and participated in local fairs. These initiatives were aimed at enhancing their income and management capacity for their small businesses.
Hurrican Iota - Micro Enterrpise:Two years after Hurricane Iota hit San Andres and Providencia islands, 40 micro-businesses revived with training, seed capital, and commercial guidance. Among them, two saw a 43% income rise, three a 67% increase, 26 at least 10%, and seven more than doubled their income.
Housing: Since 2022, housing projects have been concentrated in Sucre and Antioquia departments. Now, 53 families previously living in poverty have dignified homes.
Nutrition for Children: In collaboration with the Roosevelt Institute in Bogota, 755 children received nutritional support, and 1,622 newborns and premature babies received specialized care to reduce mortality and malnutrition during hospitalization.

2022

Food For The Poor shipped $251,600 worth of aid to Colombia.
Seeds to Market - Acceso: Partnership with Accesco feeds 5,000 children in Haiti and Colombia through training program for farmers by providing seeds and low-cost loans with pay back through crops. All food goes to feeding programs for local children.
Food Assistance: Food For The Poor leveraged local food production to expand feeding programs, improve nutrition, and support farmers and food workers. Through this effort, the charity delivered tons of produce, feeding more than 1,000 school children, and establishing community training farms for 170 vulnerable individuals. This effort is also assisting 500 additional farmers in nearby communities.
Sustainable Community Development: In Granada, Colombia, Palma Real is the first large-scale sustainable community development by Food For The Poor and partner Corporación Minuto de Dios. Now, 60 families call it home, filled with hope for the future.
Housing: Completed the final phase of the Palma Real Sustainable Community Development, delivering the remaining 20 homes to complete the total of 60 residences.
Housing: The inauguration of Ciudad de Dios Entrenubes, which means City of God Among the Clouds, introduces a high-rise community for 72 families. This community was built by the Order of Malta Foundation in Colombia, in collaboration with Food For The Poor and Fundación Construimos.
Micro-Enterprise: Food For The Poor established a partnership with Acceso to help small farmers earning less than $5 a day to market their products. Acceso purchases produce from the farmers and sells it in various markets, ensuring farmers receive payment for their goods.
Farming: In collaboration with Food For The Poor, Acceso plans to establish six additional community training farms within the next 18 months. This initiative benefits 170 vulnerable women and youth, as well as over 500 farmers in the surrounding areas.

2021

Food For The Poor shipped $2,496,450 worth of aid to Colombia.
Sustainable Community Development: The inauguration of the initial 20 homes in Palma Real, Granada, marks the beginning of the first sustainable community development project, a collaboration between Food For The Poor donors and Minuto de Dios, the charity's partner.
Partnerships: Father Mario Polo, the newly appointed executive director of Minuto de Dios, pays a visit to Food For The Poor to engage in discussions with its leadership on potential collaborations aimed at lifting families out of extreme poverty.

2020

Food For The Poor shipped $1,686,754 worth of aid to Colombia.
Social Merit Award: Food For The Poor was honored with the Rafael Garcia Herreros Order of Social Merit, one of Minuto de Dios' most prestigious awards, during the organization's annual Banquet of the Million in Colombia, held on Thanksgiving Day.
COVID-19: Minuto de Dios staff members in Colombia embark on boat journeys to reach remote communities and provide aid packages during the COVID-19 pandemic.

2019

Food For The Poor shipped $1,335,400 worth of aid to Colombia.
Migrants: Food For The Poor addresses a critical situation in Colombia, where tens of thousands of Venezuelan immigrants seek refuge from shortages of food, water, and medicine.

2018

Food For The Poor shipped $530,127 worth of aid to Colombia.

2017

Food For The Poor shipped $187,620 worth of aid to Colombia.

2016

Food For The Poor shipped $62,245 worth of aid to Colombia.

2014

Food For The Poor shipped $1,304,069 worth of aid to Colombia.

2013

Food For The Poor shipped worth of $1,354,707 worth of aid to Colombia.

Trusted. Transparent.

Accountable.

Food For The Poor is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization committed to responsible stewardship and full transparency. Your contributions are tax-deductible under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3). Tax ID: #59-2174510.

We're honored to be independently recognized for our integrity and impact, and we remain dedicated to open reporting.

Since 1982, 6 Million Donors Have Made It Possible for Us to Provide:

More than 4.7 Billion Meals

96,381 Safe & Secure Homes

105,415 Tractor-Trailers of Essential Aid

Meal totals reflect food shipments from 2006–2025. Shipments from 2006–2015 were converted from pounds to meals (4 meals per pound) and combined with reported meal totals from 2016–2025. Home construction totals and tractor-trailer shipments represent cumulative impact from 1982–2025.