Node: ReFi Cartagena
Grant: ReFi Colombia Local Nodes Mini Grant
Period: February – March 2026
Team Leaders: Daniela Monclou, Ximena Monclou, Diana Monclou and Fabio Anaya
Executive Summary
This program consisted of a route of five unique encounters designed to integrate coastal conservation, social well-being, and Web3 technology in Cartagena de Indias. We successfully connected the community with Regenerative Finance (ReFi) concepts through tangible actions such as mangrove reforestation, veterinary days, and circular economy workshops.
Milestone Breakdown & Impact
1. Huellas que Regeneran – Animal Welfare (Feb 15)
- Activity: A health and education day in the San Pedro Mártir neighborhood alongside Fundación Huellitas and Dr. Gabriela Román.
We launched with great impact in the San Pedro Mártir neighborhood. Thanks to a strategic alliance with Fundación Huellitas and Dr. Gabriela Román (Vet), we trained 20 local residents in responsible pet ownership and animal care. The day served as a space for deep awareness-raising, where we delivered 80 kg of food and conducted mass deworming. We identified a significant digital divide: many neighbors did not have mobile devices capable of downloading the POAP, which helped us understand the need for more technical support in vulnerable areas. However, this was not a barrier to the activity’s success; we shared refreshments with all attendees and concluded a day full of learning, community building, and, above all, strong awareness regarding respect for animal life.
- Tangible Impact: Donation of 80 kg of food (50 kg for dogs / 30 kg for cats) and a mass deworming session.
- Community: 20 local residents were trained in responsible pet ownership.
- Web3 & Challenges: We issued the first POAP of the cycle. We identified a significant digital divide, as many neighbors lacked mobile devices to claim digital badges, highlighting the need for technical support in vulnerable areas.
- Social media LinkedIN, Instagram, X
2. Café, Comunidad y Conciencia – Circular Economy (Feb 18)
- Activity: A waste management and eco-notebook workshop held at Muna Café.
This meeting at Muna Café allowed us to delve deeper into the circular economy. However, we faced logistical challenges: by holding the call on a weekday during afternoon hours, attendance was limited to 5 final participants. We realized that the technical requirements and the timing made it difficult for interested people to register; in fact, 15 additional people expressed great excitement about attending but dropped out at the last minute due to scheduling conflicts. Despite this, the eco-notebook workshop was of high quality, allowing us to validate that sustainability topics require flexibility and formats that better adapt to the working reality of the community.
- Education: We discussed the transition from extractive economies to models that restore social and ecological systems.
- Logistics: Due to the weekday afternoon schedule, attendance was limited to 5 final participants, showing that sustainability topics require more flexible formats. We minted our Second POAP.
- Social media LinkedIN, Instagram, X
3. El Manglar Vive – Coastal Reforestation (Feb 21)
- Activity: An expedition and planting day in La Boquilla alongside FundaciĂłn Mapache and Biotours.
For this activity, we intensified our social media presence. Due to the natural risks of the area, we limited registration to 10 people, ensuring that every attendee was covered by risk insurance. It is vital to highlight that we do not carry out activities of this type without insurance policies, as community safety is our priority against any unforeseen risks. Of those registered, 2 people who promised to attend were ultimately unable to make it. The day was a resounding success: we planted 50 red mangrove seeds and connected with traditional fishing, proving that regeneration requires rigorous and responsible logistical planning.
- Environmental Impact: We planted 50 red mangrove seeds and provided care kits for participants to continue the cycle at home.
- Safety: Registration was limited to 10 people to ensure everyone was covered by risk insurance, which is a non-negotiable requirement for our field activities. We minted our third POAP.
- Social media LinkedIN, Instagram,
4. VĂnculo y Blockchain – ReFi After Office (Feb 26)
- Activity: A technical networking event at the Alliance Française with Cartagena On Chain.
The ReFi After Office at the Alliance Française was a milestone in our data management. We implemented a strict registration process at the entrance, which facilitated attendee tracking. We actively encouraged the POAP download as a requirement to claim the eco-notebook and participate in the raffle for the exclusive “Guardians Edition” t-shirt. This strategy not only increased digital interaction but also allowed people unfamiliar with Web3 technology to become accustomed to using digital wallets in a relaxed and professional networking environment.
- Education: Presentations on Carpil (Web3 carpooling), Ethereum Everywhere, and the impact of decentralized grants.
- Gamification: We used a strict registration process and POAPs as entry tickets for an exclusive “Guardians Edition” t-shirt raffle.
- Social media LinkedIN, Instagram, X
5. Soñar para Regenerar – Planning Workshop (Mar 07)
- Activity: A national virtual encounter focused on Moncrear’s Creative Planning methodology.
For our grand virtual finale, we decided to professionalize our outreach by investing in a social media ad campaign with a regenerative focus. The result was extraordinary: 75 registered participants from various regions of Colombia. We strategically began the workshop by showcasing the trajectory and achievements of ReFi Cartagena to provide context for the new national audience. This paved the way for the creative planning workshop with Moncrear to be much more effective, ensuring that attendees not only dreamed of a better Cartagena but also understood how Web3 technology is the real enabler to achieve those goals.
- Outreach: We invested in a social media ad campaign, resulting in 75 registered participants from various regions of Colombia.
- Closing: We consolidated a vision for Cartagena using the Be-Do-Have model and delivered the final incentives of the grant. We raffle 2 shirts with people who minted the last POAP
- Social media LinkedIN, X
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
- Total Registrations: 75+ throughout the program.
- Animal Welfare: 80 kg of food and veterinary care provided to coastal pets.
- Ecological Impact: 50 mangroves planted and community training in circular economy.
- Web3 Adoption: 5 unique POAPs issued and multiple digital wallets created for new users.