2021 TOP 10 CNN HERO

Moved by the extreme poverty in communities near her home in northern Colombia, 31-year-old Jenifer Colpas co-founded Tierra Grata in 2015 to disrupt the cycle of intergenerational poverty in isolated rural communities forgotten amidst the country’s extended civil war. Her innovative non-profit, whose name means “Gratitude to the Earth,” provides sustainable access to clean energy and safe water and sanitation such as eco-toilets and showers. Through focused training and empowerment of local women, their services have already improved the quality of life for more than 10,000 people.

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Video: CNN Hero Jenifer Colpas