A Solution to Extreme Poverty?

In Cartagena the extreme poverty rate surged from 10.1% to 12.7%. Less than 196,698 pesos per month ($2.15 a day) is what approximately 6.9 million Colombians are living on (Garcia). Families are confronted with irrational decisions such as choosing to feed their child, or send them to school.

As of late there are companies and organizations, such as Opportunity International, who are building new inventions to aid the crisis. Through persistent efforts to support, train, and increase access to services people are beginning to see hope. Camilo Garcia has put in place programs such as a Savings Groups, extreme-poverty graduation models, and financing mechanisms for educational institutions. His organization, Opportunity International, brings together institutions from private, nonprofit, and government sectors to create inclusive communities and economies (Garcia). More than half of the country works, consumes, and earns within the Economía Popular which is not a formal economy. The people who live inside the economía popular lack standardized social, business, and governmental support, typical banking, education, a regular paycheck from the work they do.,or insurance (Garcia). The financial gaps in Colombia's society push people into poverty.

(Garcia)