Pasacaballos – District of Cartagena de Indias, belonging to Locality 3 (Industrial and Bay Area). It is located at the mouth of the Canal del Dique, where it flows into the Bay of Cartagena, 18 kilometers from the city.
Pasacaballos is an Afro-descendant community of more than 19,000 inhabitants, which has grown enormously over the last ten years: in addition to the normal rural exodus, there are refugees from areas affected by the civil conflict. This has transformed the structure of the village into a suburban slum area. Only a small percentage of the inhabitants continue to rely on traditional sources of income such as fishing and agriculture, as the influence of the industrial area has distorted traditional practices and has transformed farmers and fishermen into day laborers and unskilled workers. In addition to the loss of cultural identity, only a small percentage of the population finds employment. Families mainly earn their income through the informal sector as street vendors, bus drivers, bus assistants, motorcycle taxi drivers, and other activities. Only a small portion of the population works under regular employment contracts in the industrial area of “Mamonal” in the city of Cartagena, which is located near the village of Pasacaballos.
Historically, Colombia is a country that has had to face an armed conflict for more than 50 years, arising from confrontations between illegal groups and the State and civil society. This conflict is widely known for its manifestations of violence and for the serious consequences it has caused in the social and cultural development of the population.
Analyzing the conflict in Colombia and its current situation means reflecting on a history of negotiations with armed groups, the construction of peace, and the well-being of a nation. Over time, the conflict became increasingly severe, and new actors became involved in the development of events: drug traffickers, paramilitary groups, common crime, poverty, and unemployment, directly or indirectly affecting the population in general, but especially children, adolescents, and women.
Our city, Cartagena de Indias, is not exempt from this conflict and all the problems it brings with it. In addition, it is a city with extreme conditions and significant socioeconomic differences. We can find very wealthy families as well as others living in conditions of extreme poverty. According to DANE (National Administrative Department of Statistics), Cartagena is the second city with the highest poor population in the country, especially concentrated in rural areas.
