The Wayuu People
The Wayúu People
The Wayúu are one of Colombia’s most unique and largest indigenous populations, living in the north of Colombia, in an area encompassed by the La Guajira desert, the country’s largest. The Wayúu have gained notoriety for never having been conquered by the Spanish. The people, dispersed throughout this enormous region, consist of scattered clans surviving in the relentless environment. The actual size of the population throughout the area of La Guajira is not well known but is speculated to be in the hundreds of thousands. iHelp is excited to work with the people of this tenacious culture who face unique troubles in the harsh desert atmosphere.
Daily life for The Wayúu involves some of the most extreme poverty, thirst, drought, environmental degradation, and malnutrition in Latin American history, as well as a severe migration flow. Despite their hardships, the Wayúu remains a humble culture, full of unique attributes in their food, dancing, music, and art.
Our Impact
Through team focused efforts with other local nonprofits, and direct communication with community leaders, we plan to employ efficient, targeted, and long term-sustainable solutions within the communities in this region. We hope to continually work with the communities and non-profits to build and enhance existing infrastructure, medical operations, educational systems, and to improve access to water and nutrition. We plan to implement community growth projects and provide health and wellness through mobile medical clinics, food drives, fixing wells, establishing renewable energy, and creating community gardens. Our marketplace permits local businesses to reach the international market and bolster economic activity within the communities. Our goal is to work with local non-profits and the Wayúu indigenous communities to help build a sustainable community that can work together to help address the social disparities they face
What we have done
School Construction
In December 2023, significant strides have been made in the development of the new schools for the community.
It was incredible to see the whole community coke together to construct the schools, with children even helping to side the building and hand drill holes needed.
We have a documentary video being put together of the project and the community, which I will try to get you when completed.
Support Wayuu Needs
The stick-like material seen on the roof and siding is dried cactus, a traditional building material cherished for its ability to provide shade and maintain a cool environment in the sun. It’s a luxury material they reserve only for school construction due to its expense.
Work in progress
Collaboration with Nuevalife
We are working with a new Colombian nonprofit organization, Nuevalife, which works with several Wayuu communities. They provide nutrition, water, medical care, and schools in the region. We are also collaborating with an American medical nonprofit, Hope Clinic International, which provides medical care in the same communities. They have advised a list of supplies and equipment needed. Through the Denton Program, we can ship up to 100,000 lbs of supplies for free via the U.S. military.
Integrating the Wayuu Into The 21st Century
The department of La Guajira is home to hundreds of Wayuu communities that have been stagnant in the development of the modern world. However, at Átix Foundation, we are aware of the importance of educating children in new technologies, providing useful tools for their future and for the development of their paths as professionals.
Kalowyachon is a community located in the jurisdiction of Manaure, where until a few months ago, there was no internet service. Now, our mission is to provide a classroom so that more than 100 children attending that school can receive an education as a foundation for the continuity of their schooling. We also aim to promote research and reading through digital platforms that contribute knowledge to the community.
The project involves implementing a classroom at the school in Kalowyachon, in La Guajira (Colombia), so that children from preschool to fifth grade can attend weekly classes and development of new technologies taught by a Wayuu teacher.
Collaboration with Atix Fundación
iHelp plans to continue its relationship with the local Colombian nonprofit Atix Fundación, with whom we joined to conduct a medical outreach trip recently. We will continue to provide resources to Atix Fundacion and others, to expand and facilitate a mobile medical clinic, food drive efforts, educational advancements, infrastructure innovations such as clean water initiatives, and to boost local economic activity.
The Atix Foundation is a group of volunteers with over 10 years of experience working for the most vulnerable communities in Colombia. Currently, their focus is on combating hunger, malnutrition, and lack of education in Wayuu communities, located in the northern region of the country, in the department of La Guajira, which have been neglected by the State for years. Their projects focus on children and they constantly conduct medical and educational brigades, ensuring the well-being of over 300 children. They also work on providing water and food supplies to the community. At Átix, they are united by willingness and are committed to transforming a different and egalitarian country.
For the future
