In Colombia, Emmaus Buenaventura has been working with society’s most marginalised for 40 years.

For over 40 years, Emmaus Buenaventura, a member of Emmaus International, has been working to help the most vulnerable populations in Buenaventura, Colombia’s main port. Founded in 1981, the association carries out social and educational initiatives in an area where the population faces violence, trafficking and poverty.

Due to its strategic location, the city is at the centre of clashes between armed groups, particularly drug trafficking organisations. The violence also affects neighbouring rural areas, home to many Afrodescendant and indigenous communities. In this context, dozens of families are forced to flee their villages. They arrive in Buenaventura, often with few resources, and live in precarious conditions. The majority of these arrivals are women and children.

Since the start of June 2025, trafficking has increased with the arrival of exiles fleeing new restrictive anti-immigration laws enacted in the United States. They are victims of illegal networks that take advantage of their vulnerability.

David Sinza, head of the Emmaus Buenaventura group, explains:

“To go to Yurumanguí, for example, you can’t even take a boat anymore, armed pirates stop you along the way. People can’t get in or out. Those who flee end up here, but then live in temporary shelters, like an old amphitheatre, without hygiene or support.”

Faced with these emergencies, Emmaus Buenaventura works with women and children, who are the primary victims of these conflicts. Within the group, children are supported by group members and volunteers, as well as doctors, psychologists and educators. The group also supports women who are setting up their own businesses to become more independent. The association organises discussion groups and seeks solutions to help these women secure their production and sell their products online.

“We know we are only a small force, but we play a fundamental role: weaving a thread of hope for children, families and neighbourhoods”, David Sinza says. Last month, a silent march was organised, and members of the Emmaus group proposed a symbolic action involving fabric, to highlight their work with marginalised people, victims of conflict and women.

Emmaus Buenaventura also carries out advocacy work to prevent the poorest people from being forced to leave their homes. To bring about change at national level, it is important that their voices are also heard internationally. Last March, the group sent a statement to Emmaus International to raise awareness of the situation in the region.

David Sinza concludes: ‘What we want is for people to help us make this human situation visible so that we can also fight it.‘