Altos del Cabo by Fondacio

Fondacio > Projects > Altos del Cabo by Fondacio

Integral Ecology Center

Care, Plant, Transform

FROM IDEA TO ACTION

YLDC Potosí emerged in a context of vulnerability and economic and social barriers that limited young people’s opportunities. In 2019, a population study was conducted to understand their needs, and in 2020, the Young Lives Development Center (YLDC) programs were launched.

Since then, the project has sought to empower young people, including migrants, to access higher education, employment, or entrepreneurship opportunities by developing personal, social, and professional skills.

Its approach promotes youth leadership, peacebuilding, inclusion, social justice, and care for our common home, encouraging young people to transform both their own lives and their community.

Associated Colleges

4

Young people in training – Life Skills

+198

85%

Admission to higher education

20%

Admission to higher education

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Our Impact

+198 young people trained in Life Skills.

85% Entered or continue in higher education.

15% managed to find employment or start their own business.

4,216 students impacted by OSO Schools (2021–2026).

1,401 students are supported in 2026 at OSO Schools

525 students impacted through Empowerment – Social Service.

120 participants in Free Workshops, including young people and adults.

Formación

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Formación

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Formación

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TRAINING

In the current context of Colombia, one of the greatest challenges is building peace, which involves education, coexistence, and reducing inequality. At Altos del Cabo, we provide a welcoming space for children and young people, promoting connection, learning, and personal development.

ENVIRONMENTAL CAMPUS

Located in a forest reserve near the Las Moyas moorland, it promotes ecological awareness through waste management, stream cleanup, educational gardens, and rainwater harvesting systems. Through these actions, it fosters environmental stewardship, community learning, and sustainable development in the region.

Ecología

Caminatas

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Experiencias

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Ecología

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RAINWATER FILTRATION SYSTEM

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GENERAL OBJECTIVE

To develop and implement, together with the community and national and international academic partners, a sustainable system for collecting, filtering and utilizing rainwater that contributes to improving access to safe water in the territory of San Isidro, while strengthening community empowerment, applied research and the replicability of solutions for households and educational institutions with water supply difficulties.

At the Altos del Cabo by Fondacio Integrated Ecology Center, and with the active participation of its core team and volunteers, the IngénieuxSud 2023–2024 international cooperation project was developed in partnership with the Catholic University of Louvain. This initiative also benefited from the collaboration of the Engineering and Design Faculties of the Catholic University of Colombia, through their Civil Engineering and Architecture programs, as well as the support of national and international partners committed to sustainable solutions for access to water.

ADVANCES AND PERSPECTIVES

During the project's development, a participatory process was conducted with the community of San Isidro, in Patios, aimed at identifying the main needs related to access to water. Based on this collaborative work, a rainwater harvesting, conveyance, and treatment system was designed and implemented, specifically tailored to the area's conditions and focused on improving the quality of life for its residents.

The project facilitated the integration of technical, academic, and community knowledge, strengthening local empowerment and promoting sustainable solutions for water resource management. As a result of this partnership between the universities and Fondacio, a first prototype rainwater harvesting filter was developed and installed at the Altos del Cabo campus as a pilot model for future implementation in homes and community spaces throughout the region.

This system aims to transform rainwater into safe drinking water through various filtration and treatment processes. The model regulates aspects such as pH, alkalinity, turbulence, and the water's organoleptic characteristics, like odor and taste. Subsequently, the water only requires a final disinfection process to reach potable standards.

To make this initiative possible, international resources were secured to finance materials and associated costs. The French organization Bricos du Coeur supported the project with a donation of €1,000, contributing significantly to the construction of the pilot system.

On July 8, 2024, students Arthur, Adrien, and Stephanie from the Catholic University of Louvain in Belgium arrived in Colombia. Together with professors and students from the Architecture and Civil Engineering departments of the Catholic University of Colombia, they participated in the construction of a rainwater harvesting and filtration prototype. The project also benefited from the support of a professor from Jorge Tadeo Lozano University in the area of communications. In total, more than ten people formed an interdisciplinary team committed to this initiative.

The system consists of a collection pipe connected to a primary tank that gathers the first rainwater. The water then passes through a ring filter for initial purification before being stored in a 500-liter tank. A hand pump then directs the water to a system of four drums containing different filter media, which further purify the water and improve its quality.

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The following week, on July 16, the project was presented to teachers and students at the Catholic University of Colombia, highlighting its contribution to addressing the water supply crisis facing the territory and the need to continue expanding this solution to more homes in the community.

On July 17, 2024, the official inauguration of the system took place in Altos del Cabo, where the operation of the filter was presented and explained to members of the community and special guests.

In February 2025, joint work with the Catholic University of Colombia resumed, especially with the Faculties of Architecture and Engineering, with the purpose of advancing in two main lines: the design of a new filter model adapted for homes in the territory and the strengthening of the research and technical improvement processes of the system.

Currently, the newly installed system is still undergoing testing and technical adjustments. Analyses conducted so far show significant progress, although the water has not yet reached full potability standards. For this reason, students and researchers from the Catholic University of Colombia continue working on improvements to the system, both at the Altos del Cabo campus and in the university's laboratories, where they are studying a simpler and more accessible model to facilitate its implementation in homes. They are also in talks with specialized companies about the possibility of installing water purification filters.

Finally, a new cooperation agreement was signed with the Catholic University of Colombia to continue developing this and other systems aimed at mitigating the drinking water supply problem affecting the territory, reaffirming the joint commitment to sustainable, community-based and long-term solutions.

In July 2025, thanks to the financial and human support of a Scout mission from France, and the guidance of professors from the Catholic University of Colombia, a new version of the filtration system was developed. This version incorporates a microbiological layer designed to purify the water after the filtration process, with the goal of making it potable.

A slow filtration system was also installed in the home of Consuelo Nivia, one of the beneficiaries and volunteers in the area. This installation was also funded by the French Scout group. Consuelo was selected after a process of visits and evaluations carried out in June 2025 with different families in the area, verifying the necessary conditions for the proper installation and operation of the system.

Deporte

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Salud

Deporte

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WELL-BEING AND CARE

The Well-being and Care program promotes personal development and emotional well-being among young people over the age of 13 and members of the local community. Through psychology workshops, it provides tools for self-care and emotional management, strengthening confidence, well-being, and the development of a resilient community.

SUSTAINABLE HEADQUARTERS

It is a center committed to integral ecology, located in a sustainable facility at the heart of the community. We work for the well-being of young people, adults, and families, offering solutions to improve their quality of life, such as microloans and a second-hand store that promotes the local economy and reuse.