This Sunday, October 17, Colombian and Venezuelan entrepreneurs will meet in the Lourdes Park, in Bogotá, this within the framework of Panas y Parces Festival in Bogotá ‘Unid @ s Pa’Lante’, an event supported and promoted by IDPAC, with the support of UNHCR and its We Are Panas Colombia campaign, PADF and Open Government of the General Secretariat of the Mayor’s Office of Bogotá.
In order to support 32 enterprises of citizens of both countries and send a message not only of solidarity, but of unity, this meeting will be held in the capital of the country.
“We are inviting everyone to know those initiatives that are being built between Colombians and Venezuelans from different locations in Bogotá and that contribute to mitigate xenophobia, promote integration and also demonstrate the importance of social, cultural and economic inclusion of the refugee and migrant population. Those who cannot go, can connect to the live that we are going to do at 10 in the morning through the IDPAC social networks and the UNHCR campaign – We are Panas Colombia. The integration between Colombians and Venezuelans benefits us all equally, ”said Rocío Castañeda, UNHCR’s public information officer, about the event.
To be part of this festival, entrepreneurs had to register in four different categories that are: cultural, gastronomy, productive and social organization. In total, 135 Colombians and Venezuelans signed up with their respective ventures, and 32 of them were selected., which will be able to present their products and experiences to the attendees this Sunday, in addition to receiving incentives for their initiatives.
Alexander Reina, director of IDPAC, He explained that this space has the objective that panas and partners meet in one place without thinking about the differences, but about what makes us equal. “Bogotans and migrants and refugees are one, and that is why We want to create spaces for us to meet and facilitate their integration into our city. At this moment there are more than 300 thousand migrants in the city, and what better way than to welcome them with open arms and highlight the great contribution they make to us ”, he said.
The meeting will take place at Lourdes Park between 9 am and 5 pm, with the respective biosecurity measures. In addition, for people who cannot attend or who are not in the city, from the Facebook profiles of the IDPAC, of Somos Panas Colombia of UNHCR and of the General Secretariat of the Mayor’s Office of BogotáLive broadcasts will be held from 10:00 am so that those interested can learn about the undertakings.
This transmission will be led by the Colombian journalist Santiago Rivas, who will be at the Festival and, through social networks, will make each initiative known to the users of social networks who connect with him. However, if you are interested in attending, but first want to know what you are going to find, you just have to go to the official website of the IDPAC to see the list of entrepreneurs who won the call in each category.
For Dayanna mendoza, a Venezuelan woman who will participate in this festival with her initiative, this festival exists “To give us all opportunities, because at some point we are all migrants”. She arrived in Bogotá to start a new life, as she has succeeded, she decided to start a foundation called Women of New Light, in which she is in charge of empowering women who want to get ahead.
“From the organization we want to provide support to women in general; Venezuelan women, returnees, from the host community, victims of gender violence. If they are not well, they will not be able to provide well-being to their family nucleus, that is why we hold workshops in different locations, ”said the Venezuelan entrepreneur.
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