Colombia’s First Cultural Metaverse

Colombia is pioneering virtual reality with a project aimed at highlighting and preserving Afro-Colombian traditions in the towns of northern Bolívar. ACD Consultants is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting human and sustainable development that launched ‘Nuestra Esencia’, the country’s first cultural metaverse.

The metaverse emerges as a channel for cultural connection and community empowerment in a context of constant technological advancement, a digital proposal to preserve Colombia’s intangible cultural heritage, and serve as a tool for international dialogue through its promotion.

A virtual journey into Colombian culture

Connecting initially with students of seven communities of the department, such as Pontezuela, Santa Rosa, Bayunca, and Arroyo Grande, among others, ‘Nuestra Esencia’ illustrates how tradition and modernity can intertwine to enrich the present and envision a diverse future. This initiative generates an immersion in a virtual journey that reveals the depth of ancestral cultures, featuring audiovisual content based on cultural festivals, murals, or traditional dance.

The company leading the project has played a crucial role in promoting development in 20 departments, positively impacting 77 municipalities and benefiting more than 300 communities throughout Colombia. In collaboration with eight strategic partners, it has initiated 41 new projects, bringing its total to 93 active initiatives which benefit over 46,000 people. These projects, focused on sustainable development and social innovation, demonstrate a firm commitment to the environment and to the quality of life for Colombian communities.

Colombia’s cultural metaverse drives social innovation

The project features a robust social innovation component, which is an essential strategic approach for addressing complex global challenges. Creating solutions that not only address local problems but also serve as models that can be replicated internationally, such as the metaverse ‘Nuestra Esencia’, promotes progress and sustainability on a global scale, contributing to the fight against problems such as discrimination, gender violence, or climate change.