2018 management report

The world is doing better than we think and there are several reasons to feel hopeful. Hans Rosling, professor, doctor and social studies researcher, would categorize what happens on a daily basis as the silent and secret miracle of Human Progress [1]. In the last century, humanity has advanced significantly in fundamental aspects such as access to drinking water, electricity, vaccination and connectivity by means of mobile and internet technology. However, the daily advance tends to get obscured by the information trending on social media, and the seemingly increasing political distrust. The divisiveness has made it difficult to come together to identify and solve our most pressing problems.

We cannot discredit our achievements, and we must certainly not lose hope in our capacity to collaborate with one another for a better future. That is why at Compartamos con Colombia we choose to be optimistic; we choose to work with enthusiasm to bring about change and transformation. We are aware that Colombia is currently facing multiple challenges and understand how economic and social inequalities have isolated some of our communities and generated important differences in the access to equal opportunities. Nevertheless, we are also aware that we can change our reality by bringing a broad pool of talent together for a common purpose. In fact, Compartamos con Colombia was born 18 years ago with the vision of building a common space in which professional services firms can contribute to society and bring about social transformation.

As an organization, we have reinvented ourselves continuously in order to respond to the ever-changing context and to the new arising challenges. Currently, our job has been focused in two directions: strengthening the capacities of leaders, organizations and communities which have a high social or environmental impact; and on the other hand the design and guidance on the implementation of community solutions by matching the talent of our team and associated firms with the needs of the communities with whom we work.

In recent years, Compartamos con Colombia has worked with more than 500 organizations and initiatives of social and environmental impact. Thanks to this experience, we are now certain that change and transformation, complex and time-consuming as they may be, are achievable and thorough when they are built collectively by diverse and talented actors who are committed. That is why we are optimistic and we keep investing all our energy to accelerate the transformation of our country.

Eulalia Arboleda de Montes
President of the Board of Directors

Susana Yepes Bernal
Executive Director

Read our 2018 management report here.

Check a short version of this report here.