Strengthening Ancestral Cultures

Senior Audiovisual Journalist | Investigative Journalist

Preserving Heritage Through Sustainable Development: The Piaroa Community and the IRACA® Program

In Colombia, Indigenous groups continue to strive to preserve their traditions and languages amid ongoing challenges. In collaboration with Social Prosperity and the Pan American Development Foundation (PADF), the Colombian government supports Afro-Colombian and Indigenous communities through the IRACA® program—an national initiative designed to foster comprehensive development while honoring cultural identity.

One such community is the Piaroas, located in the remote Serrapia region of Vichada. Historically isolated, the Piaroas rely entirely on the resources of the jungle and face systemic barriers in commercializing their crafts and sustaining livelihoods.

Through the IRACA® program, Social Prosperity, PADF, introduced an ecological system focused on food security and sustainable practices, empowering the Piaroas to improve their quality of life while protecting their ancestral way of living. Among the initiatives, solar-powered refrigerators were distributed to reduce environmental impact and extend product preservation.

The Colombian government has since implemented hundreds of complementary projects spanning health, education, housing, sanitation, income generation, environmental sustainability, and institutional strengthening—building a comprehensive, long-term support network.

These efforts formed part of broader development storytelling initiatives led by Social Prosperity, which reached over five million viewers across North and Latin America through institutional platforms and a PSA broadcast on Directv. Stories from these programs were also featured in international distribution, including Discovery Channel’s Hecho en Colombia, amplifying the visibility of Indigenous communities and sustainable development efforts on a global scale.