Donate to Kind Footprint Save a Life in Medellín Tonight

Kind Footprint is a U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
registered in California (EIN: 83-1522419) that connects
international donors with rigorously vetted grassroots
humanitarian programs in Medellín, Colombia.

Founded in April 2020, Kind Footprint operates through
a proprietary vetting framework the SITES methodology
to ensure every funded program demonstrates Scalability,
Impact, Transparency, Efficiency, and Sustainability.

Our primary active program is our partnership with
Emergencias Apolo, an emergency medical and mental health response organization serving approximately 100,000 residents in Medellín's most underserved communities.

They are the same organization. "Empower the Barrios" was the original community name used during Kind Footprint's early operations. "Kind Footprint" is now the sole active public brand a strategic decision made to improve clarity and avoid confusion for donors, partners, and volunteers.
There is no separate entity.

Kind Footprint is incorporated in the United States (San Diego, California) and operates its humanitarian programs in Medellín, Colombia specifically in the northern areas of the city including Bello and the surrounding "invasion zones."

Invasion zones are informal settlements not officially recognized by the government, located on steep hillsides at the edges of Medellín. These communities lack essential infrastructure water systems, sewage, healthcare access, and public security and are among the highest-need, lowest-cost areas for humanitarian intervention in South America.

Kind Footprint is not incorporated in Colombia. It operates through incorporated local partners, primarily Emergencias Apolo for the medical program.

Kind Footprint was founded in April 2020 and has been operating continuously for 6 years. The organization began with emergency food aid during COVID 19 (Feed the Barrios), expanded into technology education (Recode the Future), and currently focuses primarily on emergency medical response through its partnership with Emergencias Apolo.

Kind Footprint has two actively involved leaders:

Steve Cha Founder of Kind Footprint, based in the United States.

Mees Liedekerken CFO of Kind Footprint and Project Coordinator of the Emergencias Apolo medical operation. Based in Medellín, Colombia since 2019. Mees built the logistics network of local foundations and social leaders that enabled the distribution of 350,000 meals during COVID-19 and currently oversees the ambulance program.

Kind Footprint has 6 board members in total. Two Steve and Mees actively sign off on all grants and fund disbursements.