Mayor Claudia López has inaugurated the 19th Care Block in Bogotá, located at the House of Equal Opportunities in the Teusaquillo neighborhood. This space has the potential to benefit over 30,000 residents in the area.
"In this Care System, all entities contribute resources and efforts with their facilities. In the case of Teusaquillo, it was the Local Mayor's Office. It's worth highlighting that over 500 women have completed their high school education in these Care Blocks, which is a great achievement. All of this is possible because all city entities invest, provide staff, and expand their services," said Mayor Claudia López during the opening.
Teusaquillo's Care Block is a space where women and families in the neighborhood can enjoy free time and services for studying, generating income, resting, exercising, and much more.
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In this tweet, the Mayor talks about the services provided by the Care Blocks in Bogotá:
Las #ManzanasDelCuidado son para:
— Claudia López Hernández (@ClaudiaLopez) May 23, 2023
- Cuidar a quienes nos cuidan, que son mayoritariamente mujeres.
- Cuidar a quienes ellas cuidan, niños y niñas, adultos mayores o personas con discapacidad.
- Enseñar a cuidar, porque a cuidar se aprende. pic.twitter.com/5wJeOQLXjo
Such has been the impact of these Care Blocks in Bogotá that the city's Mayor announced, "We are going to establish two more zero-kilometer Care Blocks, the first in Barrios Unidos and the second in Engativá.”
During the same event, Blanca Aurora Barragán, a community leader in Teusaquillo, expressed gratitude for what she described as an achievement for her neighborhood, especially for the elderly, the largest population in this area. She stated, "This means growth for these individuals, who have hope to be reborn, to know that they can still study and enjoy life."
Teusaquillo's Care Block has nine public facilities located close to each other, including parks, schools, gardens, the House of Equal Opportunities for Women, and spaces for the care of the elderly and individuals with disabilities. Women and their families can enjoy over 20 free services that improve the quality of life for residents in this neighborhood.
"This Care Block consists of a series of interconnected facilities. This demonstrates that the local governments have taken this program seriously and that it is here to stay throughout the city. The Care Blocks will not disappear once this administration ends," stated Diana Rodríguez, Secretary of Women Affairs.
In this space, women can also study to complete their high school education, learn financial skills, office tools, and English, connect with employment opportunities, and receive guidance to start their own businesses. Additionally, they have spaces for relaxation and well-being, can learn how to ride bicycles, participate in guided yoga classes, aerobics, dance, and more.
And just as women have access to time and services, the Care Blocks also take care of those who provide care. Children, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities can benefit from offerings that promote autonomy and contribute to the development of their abilities.
Patricia Martínez from the Women's Advisory Council urged beneficiaries and families to defend these spaces in each locality. "We must take ownership of the Care Block and demand. We will continue to nurture these places to meet the needs of women in the sector," she emphasized.
"In Bogotá, we now have 19 Care Blocks to take care of those who care for us. In Teusaquillo, we bring care, leisure, and educational services for the elderly and early childhood," said Margarita Barraquer, Secretary of Social Integration.
The anchor facility of the Teusaquillo Care Block is the House of Participation (Calle 39B #19-46), a local government infrastructure that will now be a space to take care of those who care for us. In fact, more than 300 million pesos will be allocated for its adaptation and operation, covering the hiring of care promoters, technological acquisition, cleaning services, and security.
One of the most popular services in the Care Blocks, which will also be available in Teusaquillo, is the community laundry service. This will be operated with the support of Grupo Vanti, a company that has joined efforts to make Bogotá a city responsible for care and has donated washing and drying machines for more than six Care Blocks in the city.
In Teusaquillo, 22.7% of women are exclusively engaged in unpaid caregiving work. Now, with this Care Block, they will have time, services, and opportunities to resume their life projects. It is expected to benefit around 30,000 people living within its pedestrian coverage area. Among them, there are 1,522 female caregivers, 930 children under the age of 5, 3,968 elderly individuals, and 1,825 people with disabilities.
A Space to Protect Women from Gender-Based Violence!
The primary concern for women's care is protecting themselves from gender-based violence. That's why in the Teusaquillo Care Block, and in all the Care Blocks throughout Bogotá, women can receive counseling and legal guidance in cases of violence.
The Care Blocks have lawyers and psychologists from the Secretariat of Women's Affairs to provide education, income generation, and well-being services. This is part of the city's commitment to ensuring that women lead lives full of opportunities and free from violence.
One of the facilities in the Teusaquillo Care Block is the House of Equal Opportunities for Women. In this space, there is a Unified Assistance Route for women who are victims of violence and at risk of feminicide. Through a lawyer and psychologist, they receive free information about their rights and available support mechanisms, psycho-social guidance, and socio-legal accompaniment. They can also access the services offered by District entities, taking the first step towards accessing justice and breaking the cycle of violence.
Innovation and Digital Solutions for Caregivers
Recently, the Public Innovation Laboratory of Bogotá - iBO - joined the Care System with digital solutions for caregivers. On May 8th, they began testing a digital tool that allows beneficiary women to autonomously register their information, access information about their attendance and progress in care services, and customize an identification card that recognizes them as part of the System.
Additionally, a chatbot was created for service providers, enabling them to capture a photo of multiple identification cards, digitizing, streamlining, and reducing the time required for caregivers to register their attendance at the Care Block services. These tools will provide more comprehensive, robust, and quality information to improve and design new data-driven services.
The tool has already registered over 500 caregivers who now possess an identification card that recognizes them as part of the Care System. This service will gradually expand to all Care Blocks.
In Bogotá, we take care of those who care for us!
Care Blocks are already established in the districts of Ciudad Bolívar, Bosa, San Cristóbal, Usme, Los Mártires, Kennedy, Usaquén, Santa Fe - La Candelaria, Engativá, Rafael Uribe Uribe, Tunjuelito, Chapinero, Fontibón, Puente Aranda, and now Teusaquillo.
Furthermore, the city administration has implemented two Care Buses, mobile versions of the Care Blocks, to serve caregivers in rural and hard-to-reach urban areas. Throughout this administration, through the services provided by the Care Blocks and Care Buses, over 400,000 people have been assisted.
To access the services of the Teusaquillo Care Block, individuals can visit the House of Participation (Calle 39B #19-46) or call 3185932282.
More information: https://www.manzanasdelcuidado.gov.co
In this video, you can watch the inauguration of the Teusaquillo Care Block, the 19th in the city:
