PALOMINO
SUPPORT KOGUI CHILDREN
KOGUI ETHNIC GROUP
The Kogui (“people” in the Kogui language) are one of the four ethnic groups that live in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Martha, departments of Magdalena, Cesar and La Guajira. They are descendants of the pre-Columbian Tayrona culture who were recognized for the artistic and archaeological heritage they left to humanity.
They live in huts that are family villages whose homes are circular huts made of palm leaves. Their activity is subsistence agriculture. They wear white tunics made by themselves, they use backpacks woven with natural fibers.
Each hut is for the exclusive use of men or women. Men and women meet to carry out collective work, celebrate festivities or discuss topics of common interest.
Because they are the ethnic group with the least contact with populations outside their group, they have preserved their culture over the years.
PALOMINO IN THE SIERRA NEVADA DE SANTA MARTHA
The municipality of Palomino is located south of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Martha and is crossed by the Palomino river. The basin of this river is home to the Kogui and Arhuaca indigenous population. One of the indigenous towns is Tumweka; we came to it with the aim of contributing to improving the living and educational conditions of the Kogi children. Despite being a community closed to people who are not from their town, we have permission from “El mamo” (which means Sun in the Kogi language) who is the authority that directs their community (There are approximately 10 “mamos” in the Tumweka population). This permission allows us to know the needs of the children and look for solutions and resources.
PILLAR OF DREAMS MISSION WITH THE KOGUI COMMUNITY IN PALOMINO
Pilar de Sueños reaches the Kogui community respecting their culture and environment. Our mission is to help achieve or renew the elements that, within their customs, are necessary for a dignified life and that provide the best environment for the education of children.
Our first step was the delivery of school supplies, followed by hammocks and blankets, finishing with materials for art classes.
Our next step will be to obtain desks and desks for the classrooms. We also seek to deliver hammocks and blankets to the parents of each of the children.
In the future, we will continue working to reach children from other Kogi populations by offering them tools for their education.
