«"There's only one path, the one we take together... now, buddy."»
In Barichara, a town steeped in history, landscapes, and community life, we are experiencing a pivotal moment. After 22 years, the time has come to update the Territorial Planning Scheme (EOT), the plan that defines how we want our municipality to grow and be cared for over the next twelve years.
The EOT is not just another technical document: it is the chart which will shape the future of agriculture, water resources, the landscape, infrastructure, heritage, tourism, commerce, public services, community life, and much more. It is, in essence, a reflection of our dreams and our commitment to protecting them. And for the first time in Barichara, This plan is being built with the active participation of the community..
This process, driven from the Community Water Board – PLATEAU, It seeks to ensure that the new Territorial Planning Scheme (EOT) is born from the feelings, knowledge, and proposals of the community. An EOT designed with and for Barichara.
A sum of wills that makes it possible
This shared dream doesn't walk alone. Autonomous University of Bucaramanga (UNAB) She has joined the process as an academic partner, contributing her expertise to strengthen the workshops and educational spaces. People from the territory, Professionals and young people have given their time, knowledge and energy without expecting anything in return.
Besides, PLATEAU has entrusted to the Barichara Regenerative Foundation The management and administration of the Citizen Forum's financial resources. This task has been undertaken with full responsibility, as part of the Foundation's ethical commitment to active participation, transparency, and territorial regeneration.
Activities for everyone to participate
From July to September, Barichara will be the scene of multiple community activations that open space for listening and dialogue:
- Workshops in neighborhoods and communities
- Territorial tours and walks
- Social cartographies and affective maps
- Competitions in schools, meetings with Community Action Boards and sectoral spaces
- Neighbor dialogues and spaces for art and memory
Each of these actions will reflect what the region wants to preserve and what it needs to transform. We'll soon share the schedule of meetings so you can join the conversation!
See you on September 21st at the Forum!
All this community work will reach its peak in the EOT Barichara 2025 Citizen Forum, which will be held on Sunday, September 21 in the town's main park. It will be a day of community celebration, gathering, clear proposals, and shared dreams.
On that day, Barichara will look at itself in a mirror made of maps, words, and agreements. A day to say, aloud and with joy, what we want to bequeath as a territory.
The EOT belongs to everyone. Your voice also matters.
Participation is not just a right: it's a way of caring for what we love. This is not a political or institutional process: it's a citizen-led, open, honest, and collective journey. It's an opportunity for every farmer, every child, every artisan, every rural or urban dweller to say: “This is what I want to preserve, this is what I want to change.”
At the Barichara Regenerative Foundation we believe that Regeneration is also about planning with purpose.. That is why we gratefully accept the commission from MESETA, and continue to support processes that originate from the heart of the territory.
Today, Barichara calls to us. And the future is built with small but firm steps, taken together as a community.
