About Us

Despite Colombia’s progress in security and development, media reports still speak of coca fields, violent crime and kidnappings. Foreigners still perceive the country as a violent hotspot and continue to judge the country from an historical perspective and not from its current achievements or future potential.

Although undeniably Colombia still faces many problems there is a strong disconnect between the reality of the country and foreigner perception. For examples foreigners fail to realize that Bogotá has lower murder rate than cities such as Washington, D.C., Caracas, Mexico City, or Chicago.

For this reason The Colombian Connection Project (TCCP) was started as a means to show a different side of Colombia.

Objectives

1. Devise an international network of goodwill ambassadors that will spread positive news and stories about Colombia.

2. Create a unique and positive story about Colombia for journalists.

3. Raise funds for Colombian charities.

4. Use creative expression to show Colombia as a diverse, innovative and welcoming destination.

Our Impact

1. Participants have written articles for the press, have continued to raise funds for Colombia charities, have published a photo book, have given lectures about their experience and have been interviewed by the press.

2. Twenty-eight articles or interviews were conducted as a result of our efforts. Read some of them here.

3. US$12,730 were raised and donated by the participants for the Colombian charity Colombianitos.

4. Participants participated in the filming and promotion of the documentary Shooting Colombia. The documentary was screened in the Bogota Film Festival and The London Discovering Latin America Film Festival. The documentary has also been viewed online by by more than 14,000 persons.

5. More than 800 pictures have been collected thanks to our photo online contest.

The Colombian Connection Project

uncovering Colombia through learning journeys