Preserving Culture, Empowering Community and Continuing Family Legacy - The Viche Canao's Journey.

Overview

Hi, my name is Liseth Martínez, and I’m the proud leader of Viche Canao, a socially-driven, women-led business rooted in the rich cultural heritage of Colombia’s Pacific coast.

Viche, Granted UNESCO world heritage beverage in 2022, is a handcrafted and organic, artisanal spirit made from fermented sugarcane juice, with an alcohol content ranging from 31% to 45% by volume. Rich, earthy, Woody and complex, reflecting the Pacific region’s unique territory.

Viche Canao is more than just a traditional spirit. It’s a legacy, passed down through generations of Afro-Colombian families, viche is a sacred beverage used for healing, rituals, celebration and connection. Today, we’re continuing that tradition with purpose and pride, preserving the ancestral wisdom of our community leaders while creating pathways for social and economic transformation.

The Reason Behind this:

We are launching this GoFundMe campaign to raise $30.000 to upgrade and certify our community-based production plant. This is a crucial step toward:

- Meeting legal and health requirements for commercialization permits in Colombia

- Offering production services to other local viche and ancestral beverage producers

- Building a stronger presence in the Colombian national market

- Preparing for future export opportunities, sharing our tradition with the world

- Strengthening our role in community development, food security, and economic inclusion.

Our Social Impact

At its heart, Viche Canao is built on a gender-focused model that places Afro-Colombian women at the center of change. We provide economic opportunities, skill-building, and a supportive network for women who are often excluded from traditional labor markets.

We also believe in collective growth. That’s why our improved production infrastructure will be shared with other small-scale producers in the region, creating a community hub where multiple families can build sustainable livelihoods. This is about collective empowerment, not just individual success.

Our project also directly contributes to:

Economic opportunities for women in rural areas

Support for hunger relief and food sovereignty initiatives

A community production model that uplifts around five local families

Sustainable, ethical production practices rooted in cultural respect.

A family legacy

This project is deeply personal, This is more than a business. it’s a dream deeply rooted in family, culture, and resilience , and I have the honor of carrying it forward. As the current leader, I am committed to ensuring this cultural heritage thrives while also becoming a tool for economic justice, dignity, and community generational wealth builder.

How You Can Help

Your support will directly fund:

1. Upgrades to our artisanal production facility

2. Licensing and health/sanitary certifications

3. Community training programs

4. Equipment and infrastructure for scaling production

5. Shared-use production services for other small producers

7. Branding and marketing to grow our national and global presence

8. Create Youth Training Programs: Teaching traditional production methods to ensure knowledge is preserved.

Every donation, no matter how small, brings us one step closer to achieving our vision.

Please consider supporting, sharing, and being a part of this beautiful journey.

The Story Behind Viche Canao:

For more Information:

Insta:

Insta Viche Canao

Youtube:

The History of Viche Canao

Liseth Marintez Story:

Viche is Black Colombia in a Bottle

Brazil March 23th Speech:

The Viche Canao Panel

Spotify Podcast:

Diaspora Food Stories

Let’s bring Viche Canao to the world, together.