Barranquilla+20 Foundation was founded in 2012 by Xiomara Acevedo to advance climate justice, biodiversity conservation, water governance, and territorial rights across Colombia and Latin America.
We are a youth-led, feminist non-governmental organization working alongside rural communities, Afro-descendant and Indigenous peoples, coastal territories, young people, and women — promoting equity, civic participation, environmental education, and community leadership.
Over more than a decade of work, we have developed emblematic initiatives such as MallorquínVIVE and Low Carbon Schools, led global advocacy efforts, and engaged in key international processes including COP16, COP27, and COP30.
We are agents of change, advocates for life — convinced that communities are at the heart of transformation.
(ED), a legal certification that confirms that we operate with the same standards of
a 501(c)(3) of EE. UU., reaffirming our role as a reliable ally
in climate action and gender justice at the international level
We advance climate justice through the defense of water, the protection of biodiversity, and the strengthening of local knowledge systems, with a clear focus on the leadership of women, youth, and children.
We work alongside women leaders and communities to foster intergenerational equity, gender equality, and territorial advocacy, contributing to the transition toward resilient, low-emission territories.
We build national and international partnerships to amplify transformative actions that integrate environmental sustainability, social justice, and women’s rights.
To contribute, alongside international networks, to the structural transformation of development models toward just, regenerative, and climate-equitable systems, where women, youth, and communities meaningfully influence global environmental governance.
where women, youth, and communities meaningfully influence global environmental governance.
Our values guide every decision, partnership, and action we undertake.
Climate Justice
We address the structural drivers of the climate crisis by integrating social equity, water protection, and biodiversity conservation.
Women’s Leadership and Equality
We recognize and strengthen the role of women as key agents of environmental and social transformation.
Intergenerational equity
We defend the right of present and future generations to a healthy environment and responsible decisions today.
Collective action
We believe in the power of alliances, networks, and collaboration to achieve lasting change.
Integrity and Ethics
We act with transparency, responsibility, and accountability toward territories and communities.
Care for Life
We understand the nature not as a resource, but as a basis of life, and to promote its protection and regeneration.
At Barranquilla+20 Foundation, we believe climate justice begins in the territories. Since 2012, under the leadership of Xiomara Acevedo, we have worked with women, youth, children, Afro-descendant and Indigenous peoples, and coastal communities, promoting leadership, equity, environmental education, and social mobilization.
Initiatives such as MallorquínVIVE, Low Carbon Schools, and the Women’s Summits for Climate Justice, along with our engagement in global processes including COP16, COP27, and COP30, have positioned Barranquilla+20 as a pioneering and leading organization in Colombia and Latin America on climate change, biodiversity, water, and territorial justice.
Our commitment is to the defense of life in all its forms, the protection of territories, and the strengthening of the communities that inhabit them. We work to confront the structural causes of the climate crisis while promoting environmental justice, social equity, and gender equality.
We are an interdisciplinary team bringing together diverse knowledge, experiences, and professional trajectories in service of climate justice and the defense of territories.
Our work integrates expertise in law, international relations, design, environmental and forest engineering, international business, communications, and anthropology to strengthen community-led processes and public advocacy efforts.
Each role contributes to a shared vision, where collaboration, women’s leadership, and a deep commitment to territories guide our actions toward sustainable transformations.
Internationalist, a specialist in climate change and cities, and a master's in climate change research, sustainability and development. Currently a student of master's degree in leadership and conservation at the University of Cambridge. Founder and director of Barranquilla,+20, is passionate about climate action, biodiversity management, and water in cities and rural environments. With 9 years of work experience and entrepreneurial, social and environmental. It's part of the steering committee of the Global Youth Biodiversity Network and One Young World.
Social communicator with emphasis in digital media, photographer, and creative audio-visual. Passionate about telling stories that connect climate action, the art and the community and collective. From the communication, promotes narratives that visibilizan processes of youth leadership, climate justice and ecological restoration in the territories.
Responsible for the audiovisual area of Foundation Barranquilla+20. Integrates photography, video, and the management of networks for the communication of the various initiatives of territorial and regional organization. It has a digital environment where mixing everyday life and art.
Is a graphic designer, writer, creator of Wind Design, and is recognized as an artist–craftsman, combining digital and manual. I like to take pictures and create pieces that capture the essence of what surrounds it, either through images, words, or objects.
His work is part of the curiosity and creativity, exploring different forms of expression, not limited to a single discipline.
In the Foundation Barranquilla+20 provides from the design and visual communication, supporting the way in which the projects, the people and the initiatives of the Foundation are presented and communicated.
Professional in Public Accounting with 10 years of experience in the area of administrative and accounting officer of the NGO, I have stood by my ability to draw and create systems of internal control, manuals of procedures and good management of human resources. My professional career includes positions as a professional, coordinator, and advisor to administrative and financial, where I have managed to make great contributions to my experience for the business growth.
Leader peasant, agroecologa, custody of seeds, yerbatera, promoting agro-ecological and Popular educator. Co-founder of the Network of Schools of Rural organization from where we work for the construction and dialogue of knowledge, autonomy, territorial, food sovereignty and the strengthening of the bets that they center the care of the life.
With extensive experience in processes of transition agro-ecological processes of community-based management of the common goods of the nature, in spaces of incidence to the decision making process and methodology Peasant farmer, in dynamization of circles of women and formative spaces participatory intergenerational.
To be convinced of the common causes and the transformative power of women and the feminine energies in the territories. Member of Network of Agroecological of Nariño and the Economic Circuit Swarm and the Juntanza Climate Feminist. Delegate of the Region South West to the National Bureau of Agroecology.
An environmental engineer with professional experience in solid waste management, circular economy and basic sanitation. Supports Barranquilla+20 as a formulation of projects. Committed to environmental education and outreach to promote a sustainable society and to solve problems of socio-environmental.
It is a young climate leader, ambassador and entrepreneur of Belize. After having obtained the prestigious Chevening scholarship, Jason completed a Master's degree in Climate Change and International Development at the University of East Anglia, in the Uk.
He has led several youth organizations at national and international level, including the Network of Young people by the Water in Central america and the Association of Young Climate Leaders of Belize, where his main role has been to promote the active participation of the youth in climate policies at the national, regional and international levels.
In 2019, Jason was part of the youth delegation, which organized the first Summit Youth about the Climate of the United Nations. In addition, he has been a youth delegate at the United Nations Conferences on Climate Change (COP25 to COP28).
Currently, Jason is part of the team of Barranquilla,+20, where supported in the preparation and development of projects focused on climate action and biodiversity conservation.
The coordinator of the project Women as care-Givers of Life and the Climate Justice
For indigenous women, wayuu of the eiruku Epinayu. Management Tourism and Hospitality, with a background in community management, social projects, sustainable tourism, and communication processes and training from the territories. My walking has focused on the care of the life, of the territory and the strengthening of the leadership of women and youth, indigenous.
I am also a part of the Network of Women for Climate Justice and coordinate the project Women are Givers of Life and Climate Justice, from where momentum spaces for training, participation in and defense of the territory with a focus on community, environmental, and human rights. I participate actively in processes of volunteerism and articulation in indigenous networks, and social, accompanying initiatives of community communication and collective action against the social challenges and climate.
I'm a bilingual native Spanish and wayuunaiki, and I recognize her as a woman committed, proactive and organized, that believes in the collaborative work, the sentipensar community and the construction of sustainable energy futures from the peoples and territories.
Social issues and Inequalities
Laura Acevedo, 20 years. Student of Sociology at the University of the Atlantic. Interested in inequalities, social and environmental.
Atlantic Environmental Movement (AMA)
She graduated in Philosophy from the Universidad Pedagógica y Tecnológica de Colombia (UPTC) with extensive experience in community leadership, academic research and writing. She has led projects focused on the peasantry, rural traditions, and women, developing skills in project management education, content creation, publishing and audiovisual production.
I am a black woman, young and sociologist, committed to the defence of human rights, especially sexual and reproductive rights, social justice and community work from the territories. My experience has been built on processes of formation, social facilitation and support community with young people and women, mainly in contexts where the access rights continues to be crossed by multiple barriers.
Work from an approach to feminist, anti-racist and territorial, backing to the popular education as a tool of social transformation, strengthening the autonomy and informed decision-making. I have been involved in the design and development of workshops, pedagogical materials, and routes of access to rights such as the right to Voluntary termination of Pregnancy (VTP), coordinating efforts with social organizations, citizen groups, citizen initiatives and feminist.
I believe in the collective processes, in care as a political practice, and the importance of building safe spaces, sensitive and contextualized, that recognize the realities, knowledge and strengths of the communities. My work part of the territory, of listening and of the conviction that social change is built from the everyday and the community.
Contributor and volunteer production team of Caravan Territorial Atlantic.
Lorraine Mary Baptist Riquett, afro-caribbean, a lawyer by profession, a human rights defender, eco feminist descolonial, community and anti-racist, founding partner and legal representative in Foundation Midwives, an activist in the Block Feminist Atlantic, a member of the first movement of women Are Ready Colombia.
Colaboradora en la Caravana Atlántico y voluntaria de la Fundación Barranquilla +20.
Activista social y profesional de la Sociología, Especialista en Administración de Programas Sociales con Énfasis Municipal y Magistra en Proyectos de Desarrollo Social, con experiencia en sector público y privado. Asesora Metodológica e Investigadora. Amplia experiencia en trabajo social con poblaciones vulnerables y diversos tipos y formas de violencias. Asesoría, asistencia técnica, acompañamiento y capacitación a organizaciones de la sociedad civil. Incluye programas de convivencia y seguridad ciudadana desde una perspectiva holística. Apoyo acompañamiento a mujeres víctimas de violencia de género dentro del proyecto de base territorial Barranquilla Ciudad Segura para las Mujeres.
Internationalist, a specialist in climate change and cities, and a master's in climate change research, sustainability and development. Currently a student of master's degree in leadership and conservation at the University of Cambridge. Founder and director of Barranquilla,+20, is passionate about climate action, biodiversity management, and water in cities and rural environments. With 9 years of work experience and entrepreneurial, social and environmental. It's part of the steering committee of the Global Youth Biodiversity Network and One Young World.
