Airbnb and Hosts empower women and youth in Colombia

“This is Super Empanada, who fights against hunger and poverty,” says Yuli, a Host and founder of the True Heroes Foundation in Bogota, Colombia, as she holds up one of the handmade dolls that symbolizes her organization. 

The doll is dressed in a yellow superhero suit, a red cape, and a blue eye mask. But it’s Yuli who is the real superhero. Through her foundation, she provides sewing jobs to help women earn supplemental income to support their families.

The True Heroes Foundation runs workshops where women learn to create dolls for sale through her nonprofit. Since 2012, dozens of mothers have benefited from the workshops. The foundation also offers a safe space for mothers and their children to seek mental health support, find community, and express themselves through art and creativity.

As a member of the Bogota Host Club, Yuli nominated the foundation for an Airbnb Community Fund donation. Host Clubs have an opportunity each year to support their local community through the Community Fund. Thanks to the nomination, the True Heroes Foundation received a $10,000 USD donation.

The donation will help the nonprofit purchase additional sewing machines, recruit a part-time psychologist, and expand its space. It will also provide supplemental income to at least four families for six months.

“Thanks to the Airbnb grant, we will begin 2024 with great projects and improved opportunities for our organization,” Yuli says. “It’s significant that a big company like Airbnb supports us.”

More than 50 Host Clubs nominated nonprofits around the world to receive Airbnb Community Fund donations in 2023. Nominations for the 2024 Community Fund donations are now open. Connect with your local Host Club to learn more.

Information contained in this article may have changed since publication.