The La Independencia neighborhood is a clear example of how the union of its inhabitants, the promotion of culture, sports and entrepreneurship, as well as mutual support, can transform a community.
News Valley.
YourBoatwith its special “The story of my neighborhood”, has come to Buenaventura to make visible its people, its culture and those neighborhoods that have worked in the social fabric, in social and cultural projects for children and young people.
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Over the last few months, the Tu Barco team has visited various neighborhoods in Cali, collecting life stories and sharing the stories of the communities that inhabit them.
Today, the focus is on one of the most representative sectors of Buenaventura: the La Independencia neighborhood, a place that has grown and evolved over the years, becoming a nerve center for both its inhabitants and those who pass through the city. .
Founded 62 years ago, the La Independencia neighborhood began as a small settlement, initially driven by the presence of a church that, at the time, was the nucleus of development of the sector.
According to Paulo, a resident of the area for 36 years, this neighborhood has gone through different stages of growth.
The first, marked by the construction of homes and the arrival of the first services; then, a second phase in which commerce began to develop, and finally, the third stage, further away from the central area, which has given rise to new housing and infrastructure projects.
The sector has established itself as a meeting place for various social and cultural activities. Sports fields and educational centers have been key in its development, and the space that was once intended for recreation has ended up becoming a center of social activity, where sport and culture play a fundamental role in promoting unity and the sense of community.
Culture, sport and community
La Independencia is not only a residential neighborhood; It is also a cultural and sports center.
The community has folklore groups that have represented the region in national and international events, taking the culture of Buenaventura beyond its borders.
In the sporting field, the neighborhood has an ideal setting for practicing sports, and many young people, such as the soccer player Jaron Santiago, a native of the neighborhood, have started their careers in this space.
Jaron, who has played for teams such as Millonarios, Deportivo Cali and currently in Santa Fe, is just one of the many examples of how practicing sports in the area has allowed young people to access opportunities beyond those offered by their environment. immediate
A neighborhood with a spirit of improvement
One of the most notable aspects of La Independencia is the positive attitude and spirit of improvement of its inhabitants. The stories of the women who get up early to sell fish and seafood, or who dedicate themselves to jobs such as coconut shredding, are examples of how the neighborhood has managed to forge an environment of entrepreneurship and collective effort.
Furthermore, children and young people who participate in sports and cultural activities not only find a way out of violence and lack of opportunities, but they are also the protagonists of a process of social reconstruction in which everyone, from the youngest to the The older ones have a role to play.
The San José Obrero Church: a pillar in the community
Another of the icons of the neighborhood is the San José Obrero church, which with more than 60 years of history, has been a spiritual reference for the community. This space is not only a place of worship, but also a meeting point for neighbors who, over the decades, have found the church a pillar in their daily lives.
Local commerce and job creation
Local commerce has been another fundamental pillar in the development of the neighborhood. In its early stages, merchants began offering their products in the same neighborhood, and over time, this contributed to the creation of a dynamic local economy that supports the inhabitants of the area.
Currently, more than 2,000 people live in La Independencia, and many of them depend on the businesses that have been installed throughout the neighborhood to support their families.
It is common to see merchants providing employment to neighborhood youth, generating a virtuous circle of opportunities and economic growth that, although modest, has a positive impact on the community.
TuBarco and Compromiso Valle come together to give visibility to the stories of the neighborhoods, highlighting their leaders, processes and artists, and rescuing the most valuable and beautiful of each community.
