Development social
Committed to social and community development
Social development that drives the future
In order to promote the development of the communities located in the Mamonal Industrial Zone, the Zona Franca La Candelaria Foundation has three programs.
Through this initiative, entrepreneurship training is provided to dozens of people from the communities surrounding Zona Franca La Candelaria (ZFLC), mainly from the Vereda de Membrillal (located in the Pasacaballos township, part of the District of Cartagena). The goal is to enable them to create their own businesses that supply goods and/or services to companies located in ZFLC, thereby contributing to the reduction of unemployment, poverty, hunger, inequality, and insecurity, among other social challenges.
Between 2023 and 2025, six cohorts have graduated (142 students from Membrillal, trained in areas such as gastronomy, logistics, general services, construction, and caregiving). In addition, community-based enterprises have been created (already registered with the Cartagena Chamber of Commerce and supported with seed capital), which are currently providing services within ZFLC and its surrounding areas.
The goal is to graduate one or two cohorts each year and provide the necessary support to ensure that the productive units created are contracted within the industrial park. By promoting formal income generation among the beneficiaries of this initiative, the aim is both to improve their quality of life and that of their families, and to foster the popular economy, inclusive sourcing, and community development.
Through this program, job training is provided to multiple individuals residing in communities located near ZFLC, primarily in Membrillal, with the aim of reducing unemployment, poverty, hunger, inequality, and insecurity, among other social challenges.
Between 2023 and 2025, six cohorts have graduated (97 students from Membrillal, trained in areas such as merchandise management, forklift operation, and welding, which are in high demand at ZFLC), and the majority of these beneficiaries are already employed.
The goal is to graduate one or two cohorts each year and provide the necessary support to ensure that trained individuals are able to secure employment both within the industrial park and outside of it. By facilitating formal income generation among the beneficiaries of this program, the aim is to create a meaningful impact on their lives and those of their families—an effort that is not only essential to enhancing their well-being, but also to contributing to the transformation of their communities.
It is worth noting that more than 60% of the individuals trained through the “Popular Entrepreneurship” and “Inclusive Employment” programs are women.
Through this intervention, the implementation of social responsibility strategies is promoted, generating impact in the communities surrounding ZFLC. Among these, the following stand out: “Social Employment Agency”, “Youth Civic Initiative”, “Membrillal Christmas Celebration”, “Membrillal Children’s Dining Hall”, “Cinema in the Neighborhood”, “Community Firefighters”, “Membrillal Planting Initiative”, and “Football Brings Us Together”.
| Project | Description |
|---|---|
| Social Employment Agency (SEA) |
It connects the labor demand of ZFLC Users with the labor supply of the most vulnerable communities in Cartagena, especially those located near the industrial park. Between 2023 and 2025, more than 43 individuals were successfully employed through this program. See pictures |
| Civic Education for Children and Youth |
Through this project, the FZFLC works in coordination with the National Police to train children (aged 8 to 13) and adolescents (aged 14 to 17) from Membrillal in values of safety and civic coexistence, with the aim of fostering their active integration into the Cartagena community. In this way, the program promotes civic values, security, social cohesion, and the strengthening of family institutions in the city.
In 2023, 26 adolescents from Membrillal graduated from this initiative. In 2024, training began for two additional cohorts: one “Children’s Civic Program” (19 children) and one “Youth Civic Program” (4 adolescents), which graduated in 2025 (a total of 23 minors). In 2026, the goal is also to create two new cohorts, one for the Youth Civic Program and one for the Children’s Civic Program. See pictures |
| Merry Christmas Membrillal |
In December 2025, an event was held that was attended by more than 120 children from the Membrillal community, accompanied by their mothers. During this celebration, the children enjoyed inflatable castles, recreational activities, food, raffles, and Christmas gifts. This Christmas event has been held for more than 20 years and will continue to take place every year in December. See pictures |
| Quince Grove |
In 2023, 30 mango trees were planted in the Membrillal community to help reduce hunger, restore public spaces in the village, improve air quality, and lower temperatures. The planting was carried out in collaboration with adolescents participating in the “Youth Civic Program” initiative. In 2025, mango trees were also distributed to 30 vulnerable families in the community so they could plant them in their home gardens, with the aim of reducing food insecurity in the area. See pictures |
| Cinema in the Neighborhood |
Through this initiative, the FZFLC benefits 100 children from the Membrillal community every month through a family movie screening (where parents can accompany their children in these spaces for integration). During these sessions, films with positive messages are shown in order to strengthen the family unit, which is key to reducing domestic violence, crime, gang activity, and drug addiction, among other social challenges. This project began in February 2024 and, up to December 2025, has benefited approximately 1,500 children alongside their parents. See pictures |
| Children's Dining Hall Membrillal |
In partnership with the Banco de Alimentos de Cartagena and the Membrillal Community Action Board (JAC), the FZFLC established the first children’s dining hall in the Mamonal Industrial Zone. In this space, breakfasts are provided on a weekly basis (specifically on Tuesdays and Thursdays) to 100 children enrolled from preschool (transition) to fifth grade at the San Francisco de Asís Educational Institution, Membrillal campus. This initiative not only aims to reduce food insecurity and childhood malnutrition, but also to enhance the academic performance of the participating children. It is worth noting that the “Membrillal Children’s Dining Hall” opened its doors in March 2024. See pictures |
| Community Bomberos |
Through this intervention, the FZFLC is working in partnership with the Cartagena Fire Department to train children (aged 8 to 12) from Membrillal in fire prevention and timely emergency reporting. This initiative is essential for enabling the community to contribute to risk management and environmental protection. Between 2024 and 2025, 60 children from Membrillal graduated from this program, and the goal is to graduate a new cohort each year. See pictures |
| Football Brings Us Together |
Through this initiative, the FZFLC annually promotes a football tournament in which employees from different ZFLC Qualified Users participate alongside a team from Membrillal, with the aim of fostering sports, strengthening the relationship between this community and the industrial park, and facilitating the generation of social capital. See pictures |
