Visit to 3 of Compassion Kitchen’s partner community kitchens in Cali, Colombia
By Adriana Matamoros.
After attending Cali’s CBD COP16 – a global conservation conference with over 23,000 participants – I visited three of Compassion Kitchen's partner community kitchens in the city. Cali has warmly welcomed many refugee families fleeing Colombia's enduring armed conflict. These kitchens are located in some of the city’s most challenged neighborhoods, marked by gang violence, drugs, and poverty. Yet, amidst these struggles, inspiring women have emerged as leaders, creating kitchens that primarily serve children in need. I had the privilege of meeting some of these remarkable women, who are also mothers, assisting with cooking, and reading to the children a book about “minga” – a Quichua concept of collective work dedicated to protecting Colombia's coastal Pacific treasures.
Connecting the spirit of COP16 with this field visit emphasizes an essential message: engaging children in conservation not only nurtures a healthier planet but also feeds hope for a brighter future. Inspired by La Minga, the book that celebrates teamwork, we showed to these kids the power of collective action, encouraging them to become active members and protagonists in shaping a better world—and empowering them as passionate stewards of our shared home.
The first community kitchen I visited, Transformando Futuro (Transforming the Future), was founded by Norfa in her own living room and the area outside her home. Norfa embodies resilience, having endured numerous hardships since fleeing her coastal hometown in Colombia’s Pacific region due to the internal armed conflict. She is now a community leader, combining her efforts in local peace dialogues with providing daily meals to around 30 children in a neighborhood with constant, pressing needs. Despite facing multiple threats because of her work empowering women and youth, Norfa continues to lead with unwavering strength and dedication.
I also met Diana, originally from Tumaco, located in the southern Colombian Pacific region. She once made a steady income as a shell collector on Ecuador’s northern Pacific coast, but threats from guerrilla forces forced her to seek refuge in Cali. Now a mother of five, just like other mothers, Diana relies on the kitchen to help feed her family, as her husband’s night-shift construction job barely covers rent.
Due to the complexities of gang violence and the presence of “invisible borders” in the area, some mothers prefer to pick up meals themselves, leaving their children at home for safety. On the day of my visit, some children were allowed to stay after lunch. We began by drawing pictures of their dreams, shared a meal, and afterward, I read to them La Minga, a book that highlights the power of a community working together to reduce marine plastic pollution and to protect Colombia’s coastal treasures— mangroves, the sea, marine turtles, birds and pianguas (shells). The story brought smiles to some mothers and children as they recalled their coastal homes. I left profoundly inspired by their resilience and deeply grateful for the generosity they showed in opening their hearts to share their stories—a courageous act in such a challenging environment.
On the second day, I visited the Jehová Jireh community kitchen, founded and run by Jenny with the help of her daughter, Valentina. Despite her disability, Valentina’s leadership in assisting her mother with kitchen setup and serving meals to children was truly inspiring. Jenny explained that while Cali’s town hall funds some community kitchens in certain neighborhoods, the bureaucratic process has prevented her from joining this system. As a result, she relies entirely on Compassion Kitchens to keep the kitchen running. She also shared her concern that due to administrative delays at city hall, some kitchens will not have funding in January and will be unable to provide meals, potentially leading to an increase in children seeking food in Jehová Jireh.
Jenny’s limitless generosity knows no bounds. She primarily serves children but also provides meals to people living on the streets, elderly and informal recyclers, who are often turned away from other kitchens because of their smell. That day, we served around 50 children. I helped in the kitchen, shared a meal, read La Minga book and saw how children drew what they want to be when they grow up.
As a displaced victim of Colombia's internal armed conflict, Jenny understands hunger all too well. She works weekends caring for an elderly woman, using part of her income to cover the kitchen’s bills and rent. Many of the children she serves come from households where parents can’t even make a minimum wage, highlighting the vital support this kitchen provides to families in need. Some of the children wear worn-out clothes and shoes with holes, so Jenny is currently seeking support to provide second-hand clothing in good condition for around 600 children in the district this Christmas. Jenny would give anything to see these children smile, and her generosity shines through in her efforts.
Due to limited time, we were only able to visit this community kitchen at the last minute for half an hour. Founded by Clara, her warmth is felt the moment you meet her. She greeted us with a wide, welcoming smile, instantly making us feel at home. Her kitchen is just five minutes away, and she primarily serves children from Venezuelan refugee families who fled the country’s political turmoil. I played question games with the kids, asking about the meals, and they all responded enthusiastically that they love the food. Before I left, Clara made sure all the children returned home in groups, as recent events had involved kidnappings in the area. She is a true and loving leader, always looking out for the safety and well-being of the children.
Compassion Kitchens is an American registered NGO under 501 (c) (3) non profit, so all donations are tax-detectable.
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