Stories

Cooking Up Resilience

Santander, Colombia • 05/05/25

Last Tuesday in Santander, Colombia, our entrepreneurship students had a simple idea: cook together. It wasn't planned as anything special—just rice with tuna and ripe plantain, made with whatever they had on hand. But in a region facing the kind of violence that's been making headlines, even simple acts take on deeper meaning and spark connections that illuminate new paths forward.

The students didn't need a grand banquet or luxuries. They just wanted an excuse to sit around a table and remind themselves that, despite everything happening around them, they're still here. Reality hits hard in Santander, and cartel violence looms ever-present, but they chose to gather anyway.

It wasn't just food they were making. While they peeled the plantains and stirred the rice in the pot, they shared stories, laughter, and dreams of making their business plans come true. They were creating something—support networks, connections. For a moment, their worries faded, and the only thing that mattered was the warmth of each other.

Everyone took their portion and shared a moment of gratitude. That simple recipe became something more in the midst of everything they're facing. They weren't just entrepreneurs; they were a family, a group that decided to keep believing in new opportunities.

The impact is already showing: they've started their collective dessert venture without any financial support from Flint. The group calls itself "Chispa Emprende"—the spark of entrepreneurship. Soon, their leader, Andrés, will be attending an entrepreneur fair to represent their group.

In Santander, resilience looks like choosing to cook together when the world feels uncertain. It looks like turning rice and plantains into hope, one shared meal at a time.

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