About us

The Fundación Yo Creo en Colombia (I Believe in Colombia Foundation) is working since 1999 to empower Colombians, toward the empowerment of a nation. We focus on generating competitiveness, creativity and innovation by fostering confidence in ourselves and identifying opportunities in several areas in the country. These methodologies have already been implemented by companies, community groups, educational and governmental institutions, always yielding satisfactory results.

Yo Creo en Colombia is…

  • A positive detonator in a country with far too many negative detonators.
  • A powerhouse in creation of social capital, confidence and reciprocity between Colombians.
  • A potentiator of Colombia; generating and multiplying intellectual capital and empowerment-producing ideas.

An empowered nation is a nation whose citizens are aware that their future depends on them, knowing that what they do, or decide not to do, directly and indirectly affects their surroundings (groups, communities, nations, etc.). An empowered action requires applied creativity or innovation, and it translates into a clear improvement in the quality of life of the empowered and those surrounding them.

Yo Creo en Colombia is a not for profit foundation relying on more than 670 volunteers worldwide. The foundation is aware of the importance of its role in forging the country all Colombians deserve: a country at the forefront, a leader, prosperous and in peace.

The specific mission of Yo Creo en Colombia (FYCC) is to empower Colombians to speak well about their country and act on its behalf, increasing collective self-worth and building social capital between Colombians.

Social Impact:

After 2000 talks and workshops in 82 cities in 23 countries and reaching over 360,000 Colombians, the foundation has created a national awareness movement. The Yo Creo en Colombia Foundation and its research has had positive press coverage 447 times, by 44 different national media and in nine occasions by international press; including the New York Times, Univision, the BBC and The Miami Herald. Moreover, the research issued by the foundation was welcomed by Colombian ambassadors worldwide and by ambassadors to Colombia from different areas of the world.

The foundation’s labor has turned into a point of reference, a promotional model for our country and an example of corporate social responsibility, unveiling a never-before seen Colombia and instilling a deep-rooted feeling of pride and a desire to work for Colombia.

The FYCC has directed and/or was actively engaged in the creation of 17 groups; such as Jóvenes Emprendedores Exportadores (Young Exporting Entrepreneurs), Por Qué Creer en las Fuerzas Militares (Why Believe in the Military Forces), Colombiana-Mente (Boston, Los Angeles and Miami) and Yo Creo en Latinoamérica (I Believe in Latin America) to name a few. The foundation has also created a network of over 670 Colombians in eight countries, and more than 150 fully-trained individuals to give the conferences.

The Foundation is focused on four fronts

  • Education and empowerment: There are three objectives for this front: to divulge the message of the main talk, to develop competencies and to develop a nationwide curriculum for schools and universities. The first two are already implemented; the third is an initiative to develop a nationwide curriculum for schools and universities that allows students to dream about the Colombia they want; then, based on facts and compelling reasons, make the case that that country they dream of is possible and their dreams can come to fruition in Colombia. Research initiatives are currently conducted to further this project.
  • Leverage of Community Groups: FYCC builds social capital creating circles of Yo Creo en Colombia. It is supported by existing organizations that direct the efforts and energies to benefit the country and continent. FYCC methodologies assist community groups to achieve early victories. The foundation is pushing forward an initiative to connect the Colombian diaspora with community groups and is also working in alliance with Conexión Colombia. The foundation currently works with 17 groups from private, educational, military and community entities in Colombia and in the United States it carries on the Vision Colombia 2020 project.
  • Mass communication and exposure: The foundation operates through conventional and non-conventional means. It constantly reports on the project’s progress and provides Colombians with general interest information useful to speak well about our country and to get involved in the formulation of solutions to our problems.
  • Advice and Consultancy: FYCC helped to set up the project ¿Por qué Creer en Argentina? (Why Believe in Argentina) and it’s currently working with other countries in similar initiatives. FYCC advises companies, organizations and individuals in empowerment and confidence-building processes, it also gives advice on how to market Colombia and strategic planning.

About YCC