Job Satisfaction In The Field

Senior Audiovisual Journalist | Investigative Journalist

Cocorná: Rebuilding After Displacement Through Agro-Industrial Innovation and Community Resilience

In 2007, the residents of Cocorná were forcibly displaced due to armed conflict. In response, FEST (Families on Their Land) emerged as a government initiative to holistically support victims of displacement who chose to return voluntarily and rebuild their lives.

A decade later, Antioqueños returned with renewed determination, launching community projects and forming associations that transitioned from artisanal production to agro-industrial ventures. Once left uninhabited by violence, Cocorná is now home to residents committed to reclaiming their lands, culture, and livelihoods. Through cooperative efforts, they created a model for direct sales to consumers, scaling their operations to embrace sustainability and market growth.

FEST has played a central role in the socioeconomic stabilization of displaced households, promoting food security, improving living conditions, and fostering human and social capital.

In 2016, Social Prosperity and the Pan American Development Foundation (PADF) implemented complementary projects to strengthen these community-led initiatives. Their support spanned health, education, housing, sanitation, and food security, contributing to sustainable outcomes through strategic alliances and long-term engagement.

These efforts were part of a larger portfolio of development storytelling initiatives that reached over five million viewers across North and Latin America through institutional platforms, including distribution on Discovery Channel’s Hecho en Colombia. The visibility of Cocorná’s recovery has helped amplify the voices of communities reclaiming their futures after displacement.