Grassroots organizations from every corner of Cali have proposed initiatives to improve living conditions in their communities. Using a variety of approaches, they attempt to enhance life in their neighborhoods. In 2006, the Alvaralice Foundation – in alliance with Cali’s Chamber of Commerce, Casa Editorial El Tiempo, Corona Foundation, Plan Internacional and El PaÃs Cali – established a local version of the national program, Premio CÃvico Por Una Ciudad Mejor (Civic Prize for a Better City) in Cali. The Prize recognizes, promotes and expands the impact of innovative, collectively-designed social initiatives which seek to solve local problems and generate public value in a sustainable and replicable manner. Since then, Alvaralice Foundation has been the project’s regional executor and coordinator. Each year, more partners have joined the program, enabling it to widen its scope and strengthen the initiatives’ social processes.
Beginning in 2021 and in response to public protests which became known as the Social Explosion, many business leaders felt it vital to develop relationships with youth and communities seeking better opportunities. Compromiso Valle (Commitment to Valle) was created, making it possible to widen the scope and impact of programs such as the Premio CÃvico (Civic Prize), increasing available funding from 25 million pesos to 200 million pesos during the first special edition from 2021 to 2022, which included the cities of Cali and Yumbo. Significant results led to a further extension to the city of Palmira, with a pilot program carried out between 2023 -2024.
The Premio CÃvico (Civic Prize) has validated more than 1100 social initiatives, strengthened 131 organizations, and awarded more than 400 million pesos in kind as seed capital to 70 winners.