Hi, my name is Camila Gonzalez. I’m a Colombian-born journalist living in Canada, and I’m raising funds to support communities affected by the devastating 7.4 magnitude earthquake that struck western Colombia on August 10.

Like so many Colombians living abroad, today has been incredibly difficult to watch from afar. While I am incredibly grateful that my own family is safe, many families across the country are facing unimaginable loss. Buildings and homes have collapsed or been severely damaged, communities have been affected across multiple regions, and the full extent of the devastation is still being assessed.

I wanted to find a tangible way for those of us in Canada, and anyone around the world who wants to help, to contribute directly to Colombia’s recovery.

After reaching out through contacts at the Alcaldía de Medellín, I was connected directly with Corporación Presentes, a Colombian organization that works in disaster recovery, restoring living conditions and helping communities rebuild after the immediate emergency response has ended.

100% of the funds received from this fundraiser will be donated to Corporación Presentes to support their post-emergency recovery and rebuilding efforts in the communities affected by this earthquake.

I’ve spoken directly with their team and have personally tested their donation system from Canada to ensure funds can successfully reach them. I will also make sure that the full amount raised here reaches the organization.

Transparency is extremely important to me. I will publicly document the transfer of the funds to Corporación Presentes once this campaign closes, and I will continue sharing information and updates from their team about where the funds are being directed and the communities they are supporting.

This fundraiser will remain open until Saturday, August 15, at which point I will be transferring the funds to Colombia.

Because Corporación Presentes is a Colombian organization rather than a Canadian registered charity, donations through this fundraiser are not expected to be eligible for a Canadian charitable tax credit. Corporación Presentes has told me they can provide donation certification/confirmation where applicable; however, this should not be considered a Canadian charitable tax receipt.

Whether it’s $5, $20, $100 or simply sharing this fundraiser, every contribution helps.

Colombia has an enormous recovery ahead. My hope is that together we can help some of the families and communities who will still need support long after the immediate emergency response ends.

Thank you so much for helping Colombia rebuild. ❤️

If you speak Spanish or are directly in Colombia, you can also donate directly to here: https://presentes.co/dona/

— Camila