Bringing Art, Mobility, and Dignity to Seniors in Rural Colombia
April 2025 – Our third journey to Colombia
La Vega, Cundinamarca, is a thriving town with a hospital, schools, and bustling markets. Yet the rural outskirts that surround it tell a very different story. Steep, winding roads and isolated hamlets make everyday life challenging—especially for older adults whose health and finances are already fragile.
With the support of donors and the proceeds from our New Life™ handcrafted bags, we brought essential supplies—food, walkers, and other necessities—to seniors in these hard-to-reach villages. Their circumstances reflect countless others across Colombia and beyond, underscoring the universal need for dignity, purpose, and community.
The New Life™ Art Therapy Initiative
In La Vega’s town center, older adults craft hand-made bags that celebrate local culture and artistic tradition. By selling these bags, they earn a fair wage, regain a sense of purpose, and become active participants in the foundation’s mission. The revenue generated then funds projects in the surrounding rural areas—like the delivery of mobility aids—creating a self-sustaining cycle of empowerment.
Lives in the Rural Communities
The photos you see here tell a story far greater than words alone. They reveal what it means to grow old in Colombia’s rural villages: wooden homes balanced on steep hillsides, paths that challenge even the healthiest legs, and long days marked by isolation and limited access to medical care.
They also show the contrast, the moment when a walker, a wheelchair, or a bag of food arrives, bringing not only practical help but a spark of dignity and relief. These are not luxuries; they are lifelines. They allow older adults to stand with confidence, move with greater safety, and feel seen by a community that cares.
Each face, each home, each gesture in these images represents thousands of other seniors who live in similar conditions across the countryside. Through the New Life™ Art Therapy Initiative, we are not just delivering supplies; we are helping restore purpose, respect, and belonging.
Why Mobility Matters
In the United States, a walker or wheelchair is often a routine purchase. In these Colombian rural areas, such devices can cost several times a senior’s monthly income, and government assistance is minimal.
By providing these tools, we help older adults:
- Preserve independence and reduce reliance on distant family members.
- Prevent injuries that could lead to costly medical emergencies.
- Re-engage with their communities, sharing the wisdom and respect they deserve.
The Ripple Effect of Hand-Made Bags
Every bag sold under the New Life™ program carries a story: the skilled hands of an elder in La Vega who once felt invisible now create something beautiful, earning a fair wage and a renewed sense of purpose. Those earnings flow back into projects like this rural mission, creating a sustainable loop where art → income → aid → empowerment.
Looking Ahead
Our work in La Vega’s countryside is just one chapter of a larger journey. As we continue to travel, listen, and collaborate with local partners, we remain committed to:
- Expanding the New Life art collection with designs inspired by each region we serve.
- Building stronger supply chains for essential medical equipment in remote areas worldwide.
- Empowering seniors everywhere to reclaim dignity through art, community, and purposeful activity.
How You Can Help
These walkers and wheelchairs cost little for us, yet they are life-changing for the seniors who receive them. Please consider supporting our mission—whether through a donation, sharing our stories on social media, or simply spreading the word.
Thank you to everyone who stands with us—donors, volunteers, and the artisans who stitch hope into every bag. Together, we turn fragile moments into lasting change.
