Cerro Matoso helps to keep Afro-Colombian cultures thriving

At South32, we respect the importance of preserving cultural heritage and work together with communities, including Indigenous, Traditional and Tribal Peoples, to achieve this. We aim to support the protection of their cultural identity and to help keep their traditions vibrant and strong.

Recently Cerro Matoso (CMSA) partnered with the Dimite Foundation to strengthen the capacity, and cultural resilience of the neighbouring Afro-descendant communities of Boca de Uré and San José de Uré.

CMSA, the Dimite Foundation and the local communities developed an Ethno-development Plan, which aims to allow greater involvement in decision making for the self-identified Black/Afro-Colombian communities.

The plan has generated the goals that will guide the communities’ own ethno-development process, in a way that is consistent with their traditions. It also helps to strengthen the governance, management, and social dialogue capabilities of the local Afro-Colombian community councils. Strengthening living culture and providing the means to continue and perpetuate cultural connections is fundamental to the ability of communities to participate in the plan.

Part of the project included a collaboration with the University of Córdoba to provide 32 community members with a certification to support them in strengthening their capability in this area.

Lady Pereira, of the community of Bocas de Uré, said “I’m very grateful for the project, which guided us to use our resources and produce arts and crafts that we had not previously done. We were able to improve our abilities and graduate from the program offered by the Dimite Foundation and Cerro Matoso.”

>Learn more about Our Approach to Cultural Heritage here.