By Marcela Granados Sánchez – General Director Fundación Valle del Lili
When a city faces a crisis, not only is its infrastructure tested, but also the strength of its people. What Cali is experiencing today deeply pains us. Behind this emergency are real stories: people, institutions, and families who are suffering and facing enormous challenges.
From our organization, we want to send you a very clear message of closeness, respect, and sincere solidarity. We are here, alongside our community, ready to contribute and rebuild.
But even in the midst of adversity, Cali reminds us once again what truly defines us in the most difficult moments: our ability to unite, respond with empathy, and move forward.
Our city has shown resilience in the face of exceptional circumstances. We lived through a pandemic that transformed our understanding of health and care; we endured periods of profound social tension that tested our collective fabric; and today we face the consequences of an earthquake that has struck the heart of our region.
From each of these challenges, we have learned a fundamental lesson: true resilience is not just about withstanding the impact. It is about preparing responsibly, learning with humility, adapting with agility, and above all, caring for one another.
From Fundación Valle del LiliOur vocation has been and will continue to be to be present for Cali through what we do best: caring for life.
We embrace this purpose with absolute conviction and with the humility to recognize ourselves as one more part of that great network of institutions, professionals, and citizens who tirelessly give their best today. However, we also do so fully aware of the immense responsibility we bear: to be a beacon of preparedness, high capacity, and timely response for Cali and all of southwestern Colombia in the moments when they need us most.
Our infrastructure, hospital capacity, cutting-edge technology, and technical expertise are undoubtedly fundamental pillars for responding in times of crisis. However, none of this would have true meaning without the heart of our institution: the people who make it all possible.
In these challenging times, we have once again witnessed the extraordinary commitment of our "Lili Citizens." Men and women who, even while bearing the weight of their own family and personal concerns, have stepped forward with admirable generosity and professionalism to care for the lives of others. To each and every one of them, my deepest gratitude and admiration.
Behind this responsiveness lies no improvisation; it is the result of rigorous and constant preparation. For years, our Hospital Emergency Committee has strengthened each of our capabilities to anticipate risks, coordinate teams, and act with impeccable precision in critical situations. While its experience and management model have been recognized as a benchmark for hospital preparedness and resilience, today, more than a source of satisfaction, this legacy reminds us of the enormous commitment we have made: to always be ready when Cali needs us.
An emergency of this magnitude leaves us with an indelible lesson: no one gets through this alone.
Resilience is not an abstract idea; it has faces and hands. They are the hands of those who rescue, those who provide frontline care, those who donate, those who search, those who accompany, and those who support others. They are found in relief organizations, healthcare institutions, government officials, the business sector, social organizations, volunteers, neighbors, and families. Every role is vital; every effort is essential.
It has been deeply moving to witness the wave of solidarity that Cali has displayed these past few days. Seeing people helping strangers, institutions putting all their knowledge at the service of others, and entire teams working shoulder to shoulder, above any differences, reminds us of the true essence of who we are.
We know there is still a long road ahead. Weeks of recovery, support, and rebuilding lie ahead, requiring us all to maintain the same sense of responsibility, generosity, and dedication. From the Fundación Valle del Lili We will continue to do our part: learning, strengthening ourselves, and always being at the service of our city and our region.
I am absolutely certain that Cali will once again show what she is made of.
Because rebuilding will not only be about restoring what has been physically damaged; it will be about embracing each other, regaining trust, protecting the most vulnerable, and remembering that our greatest strength has always lay in our ability to act together.
Caring unites us. And when we all care for each other, that care transforms us into an invincible community.
