Most of the alerts we receive from Colombia are from rural communities, mostly where armed groups are vying for control of territory and resources. But community organizers in urban areas are also threatened. Astrid Silva Barreto is the president of Building Dreams Foundation-Mothers Heads of Household in Barranquilla, Atlántida Department.
The social foundation Building Dreams is based at Las Gardenias, a large public housing project built by the national government in 2014. In addition to providing educational and recreational activities for residents, Building Dreams also works with residents to address issues of concern, such as reported incidents of homicides, gender-based violence against girls, micro-trafficking, and the disappearance of a young man in this community, which is still ongoing.
On February 18, Astrid Silva Barreto received a phone call warning her that she had to leave Las Gardenias and that she was being followed. The threat came after an attack against the administrator of complex 6 of the housing project.