Cauca, June 2025 – With the aim of strengthening civic participation and consolidating community leadership, Incauca, in partnership with the Fundación Foro Nacional – Suroccidente and the Unidad de Acción Vallecaucana, held the “Transformative Leadership” Dialogue in Miranda. This meeting brought together communities, local authorities, and the private sector to strengthen democratic governance and promote active citizenship in northern Cauca.
The event featured the participation of Roberto Klinger, President of Incauca; Karol Amelia Sarria, youth leader; Irene Cantillo, social leader and President of the Asociación de Mujeres Desarmar para Amar; and Johan Olave, cultural leader, musician with Herencia de Timbiquí, and Director of the Municipal Institute of Culture and Tourism of Puerto Tejada, under the moderation of Joaquín Tovar, Director of the Fundación Foro Nacional – Suroccidente. With the attendance of 100 people and a live broadcast through Incauca’s social media channels, the event provided a space to discuss leadership as a driver of transformation and the role of education in strengthening capacities to influence change from within the territories.
Leadership with Purpose: the School of Civic Engagement and Leadership
This event also served as the official launch of the third cohort of the School of Civic Engagement and Leadership, a program that in its first two editions has certified 80 leaders and has promoted eight social projects that have directly benefited more than 500 people in key municipalities such as Miranda, Padilla, Puerto Tejada, Villa Rica, and Corinto.
With a clear vision toward the future, this third cohort brings together 30 young leaders involved in formal representation spaces, particularly within the framework of the Youth Council elections to be held in October 2025. During the program, participants are receiving comprehensive training on essential topics such as civic participation, social oversight, environmental sustainability, leadership, negotiation, gender equity, and self-care.
“At Incauca, we understand that real change begins when communities gain the tools they need to influence their environment. This project is a clear demonstration of our commitment to developing leaders who are not only prepared to face the challenges of the present but are also determined to create a positive impact in their territories,” said Roberto Klinger, President of Incauca
Strategic alliances for effective governance
Thanks to alliances with various social and community actors, the School has proven to be an effective platform for promoting leadership and strengthening local capacities. With the third cohort, the goal is to scale the impact achieved, developing youth leadership committed to implementing transformative projects that address the real needs of their communities.
“Each step toward citizen empowerment is an important advance in building a more just and participatory region. The tools provided to local leaders not only strengthen their voice but also open pathways for their ideas to become actions that improve life in their communities. We are seeing key results, driven by people with a real commitment to their territory,” emphasized Lina María Orozco, from the Unidad de Acción Vallecaucana.
“It is essential that our communities have the necessary tools to take an active role in building their future. These types of initiatives are a fundamental step in the formation of leaders committed to social transformation. By strengthening citizen participation, we are not only generating impact in the region but also empowering people to be protagonists of their own development,” stated Joaquín Tovar, Director of the Foro Nacional – Suroccidente.
A strong commitment to the future of Cauca
In addition to its educational focus, the program has begun to strengthen spaces for dialogue and cooperation among community, social, and institutional actors. These connections help consolidate favorable environments for civic engagement, where the ideas of leaders become collective proposals that can influence local development. Within this framework, the aim is to promote high-impact actions that translate the School’s learnings into concrete transformations in the territories.
“The most powerful aspect of this process is that it not only trains leaders but also activates communities. Seeing how bridges are built between people, institutions, and the private sector is a clear sign that the future of Cauca is being shaped from the territory, with the people as protagonists,” said Adith Lara, program beneficiary.
The commitment of Incauca and its partners reinforces a strategic dedication to building more democratic and sustainable territories, where citizen participation is the driving force for social and environmental development. This joint effort demonstrates that change begins when investment is made in people and their capacities to transform their reality.
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About Incauca
Incauca, with 61 years in the market, is an agroindustrial company dedicated to developing products and services derived from sugarcane. It currently has four plants: sugar, alcohol, energy cogeneration, and organic fertilizer. Located in the municipality of Miranda, Cauca.
Its higher purpose is to transform lives with energy, creating an environment of trust, loyalty, inclusion, respect, and transparency, with the aim of being co-responsible in economic, social, and environmental development, through sustainable practices that promote the responsible and balanced use of its products
About Incauca: https://www.incauca.com/es/
