In the quiet town of Valle, in the municipality of Bahía Solano, Chocó, a voice rises to tell a story of roots, love for the land and determination. This is the story of Martha Gricelina Torres Bermúdez, a 54-year-old woman, born and raised among the green hills and rushing rivers of this Colombian region.
Martha is a daughter of the countryside, raised by farmer parents who transmitted to her not only knowledge about the land, but also the courage to work it. From a very young age, Martha was attracted to nature and passionate about agriculture. Sowing, harvesting, processing and experimenting on the land became her favorite activities, those that made her lose track of time and filled her with satisfaction.
However, Martha and her family faced a challenge: the sale of land and the arrival of strangers to their territory. “We have the healthy objective of rescuing and supporting territories and cultures that have been linked to this family since our ancestors and thus prevent some relatives from continuing to sell the territories where our parents were born and raised. All this in order to prevent space from being given to foreign people who do not make proper use of the land and do not seek the best use of our soil.”
Determined to preserve the heritage of her ancestors and avoid the disintegration of her community, Martha promoted the creation of the Rio Juná Association. This association, made up of the descendants of the Bermúdez Perea family, aims to rescue and support the territories and cultures linked to their lineage, promoting a sense of belonging and love for the land among its members.
Precisely, in order to achieve its goals, the Association has focused on three strategic activities: community tourism, agriculture and environmental conservation. They dream of improving the quality of life of their associates and generating employment for the inhabitants of the territory, aspiring to become an example of sustainability and development for the region. To achieve this, Martha participates in community groups such as councils, community action, patron saint festivities and the activities that are scheduled to carry out cleaning and maintenance by sectors of the community and protection of the environment and thus the environment and community tourism of this area of the country.
Martha and her community’s path toward self-sufficiency and progress was illuminated when they learned about the Free and Productive Women’s Fund program. After receiving orientation, they enrolled and became beneficiaries of the program. Now they are eager to see how this dream becomes a tangible reality that transforms their lives and their environment. “We have been following all the training processes and until today we are waiting for this dream to become a reality,” says Martha.
On behalf of all the beneficiaries of the project, Martha would like to express her deep gratitude to all those who have contributed, in one way or another, to making these dreams come true. From the heart of the town of El Valle, in Bahía Solano, she sends her blessings and words of gratitude to those who have believed in her cause and supported them on this journey towards a more prosperous and promising future. “I aspire and hope that with the growth and development of this initiative we can gradually improve the quality of life of the associates and generate employment for some people in the territory. “I participate in community groups such as councils, community action, patron saint festivities and the activities that are scheduled to carry out cleaning and maintenance for sectors of the community and protection of the environment,” Martha concludes.
