Corporación Mosaico Urbano Colombia
- Barranquilla, Colombia
Organizational Overview
Mosaico Urbano Colombia, founded in 2017 and legally constituted in 2019, operates on the northern coast of Colombia, particularly in the Metropolitan Area of Barranquilla, including Malambo, Soledad, and southern Barranquilla. The organization’s mission is to transform fragile urban areas into SHALOM cities by developing leaders and social structures that create lasting, multifaceted change. Their approach is rooted in the Missio Dei (God's mission) theology and focuses on addressing the root causes of urban poverty and violence. Mosaico Urbano Colombia employs six primary strategies: planting and equipping faith communities (Nehemiah Challenge), promoting youth and children as change agents (ACJI), strengthening civil society (Fortaleza), developing urban leadership (ELU), fostering economic development, and creating sustainable income through ecotourism and productive projects at Finca Renovar. Through these initiatives, Mosaico Urbano Colombia aims to create safe, resilient, and inclusive communities. They provide holistic support to vulnerable populations, including Venezuelan migrants, displaced people, and at-risk youth. By leveraging local resources and fostering collaboration among diverse stakeholders, the organization seeks to generate sustainable impact and drive societal transformation in urban-marginalized areas of Barranquilla.
Beneficiary Population
- Urban Poor
- Migrants
- Children & Youth
- Women
- Families
- Leaders
Focus Areas
- Spiritual Transformation & Faith Communities
- Leadership Development & Training
- Community Development
- People & Family-Centered Development
- Wealth Creation & Economic Development
Organizational Track Record
Over the past 5-6 years, Mosaico Urbano Colombia made significant strides in community development, leadership training, and holistic engagement with urban poor populations in Barranquilla’s most challenging neighborhoods. They successfully trained over 250 leaders, supported nearly 20 local churches, and partnered with eight community-based groups, impacting over 4,000 individuals. Their six primary strategies included the Nehemiah Challenge, which focused on planting and equipping missional faith communities, and the ACJI, which promoted safe and resilient spaces for over 200 at-risk youth. Additionally, their Fortaleza strategy helped strengthen eight civil society groups through community development and citizen participation, while the Urban Leadership School (ELU) developed over 150 leaders using the training of trainers (TOT) methodology. They also promoted economic development through productive projects and are operating Finca Renovar, which provides a serene environment for leader training and future ecotourism initiatives. As Mosaico Urbano Colombia reflects on its future, the organization aims to deepen its impact by further developing committed leaders and disciple-makers who could multiply their work and advance God’s kingdom in other fragile urban communities.
Key Leader Biosketch
Juan Sierra Gaspar, raised in Montería, Córdoba, Colombia, serves as the Executive Director of Mosaico Urbano Colombia. With over 30 years of experience, he has coordinated, directed, and consulted on social development projects in marginalized urban communities along Colombia’s Caribbean coast. Previously, Juan worked with World Vision in Barranquilla and the Association of Evangelical Churches of the Caribbean, supporting over 50 churches and founding four. He implemented projects in community health, strengthening civil society, and at-risk youth support, leading to his invitation to the UN General Assembly to develop public policies for Colombian youth. In the last ten years, Juan has been a human rights advocate and promoter of the peace process in conflict-affected areas like Montes de María, Southern Córdoba, and Meta. He contributed to the Victims and Land Restitution Law and the Havana peace accords, mobilizing over 285 civil society organizations and 600 leaders. Additionally, he has supported Municipal Rural Development Councils in Montes de María and coordinated food security and economic development projects, funded by international cooperation and the national government, to restore the rural economy in conflict-affected areas.
Funding History with Camino Alliance
In 2020, Camino Alliance secured a $37,000 grant for Mosaico Urbano Colombia to support the construction and development of a retreat and training center in the Monte de Marias region that long-term could also function to promote ecotourism. This center aims to be used to strengthen come alongside churches, ministries and local organizations working in urban poverty contexts in Barranquilla. The impact of this grant has allowed the organization to make progress in their mission and achieve the following milestones: completed the architectural design for the center, built 90% of the facility including five bedrooms, six bathrooms, a living room with an observation deck, and a kitchen. Additionally, designed and installed 600 meters of electrical lines with high tension posts from the main road to the property; constructed 500 meters of barbed wire fencing, and adapted 300 meters of access roads to the place. They furthermore planted ½ ha of bananas and another ½ ha of avocados, conducted Missio Dei trainings for youth and church leaders, and engaged pastors in strategic planning sessions and spiritual retreats. These accomplishments reflect the transformative impact of the grant, facilitating the development of infrastructure, enhancing leadership capabilities, and setting the basis for sustainable income generation for the organization.
In 2023, Camino Alliance secured a second grant to further enhance the capabilities of Mosaico Urbano Colombia. This grant focuses on expanding local leadership capacity and laying the foundation for broader organizational outreach, aiming to replicate their intervention model in other communities. The initiative concentrates on three key areas:
First, the grant supports the planting and growth of new churches and the training of over 100 disciples committed to transforming their communities. Second, it aids 150 vulnerable youth, equipping them to become community change agents. Third, it strengthens local community processes to promote projects that transform their neighborhoods. Through this multifaceted approach, Mosaico Urbano Colombia aims to raise disciples, leaders, churches, and local organizations dedicated to seeking the Shalom of their city, ultimately impacting over 1,500 people in urban-marginalized neighborhoods of the Greater Barranquilla Area.