The Livelihoods and Food Security Motor Group of Cáritas Latin America and the Caribbean began an internship in the Valle del Cauca region, Colombia, as part of the project developed in collaboration with the Comparte Network. The objective of this internship is part of a continuous effort and process to strengthen Cáritas' territorial interventions through critical reflection and analysis of sustainable and innovative practices observed in economic-productive experiences of organizations with similar objectives, thus contributing to the comprehensive and sustainable development of communities.

During the first day, the team participated in a discussion with the Instituto Mayor Campesino (IMCA), where the history, milestones and learning accumulated in more than sixty years of work in the region. Its long history and continuous work with different groups and organizations allows us to observe the evolution of models of learning communities and alliances in constant progress, both due to the experience that is acquired and due to the changing conditions of the institution itself and the environment. This exchange of perspectives also made it possible to identify similarities and differences in the realities of the different Latin American countries, enriching the collective understanding of the challenges and opportunities in the field of food security and livelihoods.

Among the highlighted activities, the team visited the Campo Alegre agroecological farm, where Doña Marlén and Don Marino recounted the evolution of their family farm, underlining the importance of working in community and forming support networks. For them, agroecology is not just a means of production, but a lifestyle, a message that resonates deeply in the work of Cáritas, whose mission is to promote development models that are sustainable and people-centered.

The group also had the opportunity to visit the Chocoguayabal chocolate farm and production plant, an example of well-planned social entrepreneurship, with a vision of the future and gradual growth that is conscious of local realities. This case is especially relevant for Cáritas, as it offers valuable lessons in the planning and transition of productive models, essential for the economic and social development of communities in the region.

As the final part of the internship, the community aqueduct and the water treatment plant located in the mayor's office of Restrepo were visited. The members of the community board shared their experience in coexistence and effective negotiation between residents, authorities and multinational companies in the area. This example demonstrates the importance of preparation, multigenerational collaboration and the ability to establish strategic alliances, principles that Cáritas Latin America and the Caribbean considers fundamental for the success of its interventions in food security and livelihoods.

Mariano Yarza, Secretary of Pastoral Labor of Cáritas Mexicana, expressed his satisfaction with the learning acquired: "We are very happy to have participated in this internship. We learned a lot about regional realities that allow us to improve or develop our work in Reflecting on complex realities in complicated contexts, such as Colombia, has allowed us to see that the Colombian reality is similar to the Mexican reality in many aspects, and its work methodologies can help us generate dynamics of interaction and reflection in our own communities."

This internship, in which representatives from Colombia, Paraguay, Brazil and Mexico participated, highlights the importance of strengthening the knowledge and capacities of national and diocesan Caritas in Latin America and the Caribbean, contributing. to the development of more resilient and self-sufficient communities in a context of increasingly complex socioeconomic and environmental challenges.