On 8 June 2025, a 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck central Colombia. In Paratebueno and nearby towns, 134 homes collapsed and hundreds more were damaged. Schools, churches, and roads were also hit.

For many families, there was nowhere to go. People slept in crowded shelters, sports halls, or tents. Some even slept outside. There was no privacy and little rest.

Together with Corporación Organización el Minuto de Dios , our shelter frames were set up across the area. 17 steel frames were covered with tents made by a local manufacturer, making it easier to adapt to the climate and respond quickly on the ground.

From crowded spaces to a place to sleep

In Santa Teresa,  a remote village about 20 km outside Paratebueno in Colombia, families had just moved in. After the first night, they already felt calmer. One resident said: “We feel more secure now. Even when the wind is strong, the structure feels solid.”

In Santa Cecilia and Japón, small rural villages near Paratebueno, families had started to return to routines, thinking about work and plans to rebuild their lives.

The shelters are temporary. But they offer something people have been missing for months: a place to sleep, to feel safe, and to begin again.

Read more about this project here