About Relatos del Futuro
Relatos del Futuro emerged from the unique ecosystem of the llanos orientales—the eastern plains of Colombia—nurtured through a rich collaboration between ABC Colombia and Puentes.
ABC works closely with communities on environmental conservation and territorial governance, in a context where unequal land ownership structures and entrenched patriarchal dynamics often deprioritize the care, well-being, and respect of nature, animals, and women.
Through its engagement with Puentes’ learning spaces and narrative exploration awards, ABC began exploring how narrative approaches, particularly hope‑based narratives, could strengthen community participation and open new ways of addressing environmental and gender justice challenges. The initiative evolved as a process of shared learning and co-creation, combining ABC Colombia’s deep connection to local realities with Puentes’ extensive experience in narrative change work.
To learn more about the context and process behind Relatos del Futuro, read the chronicle “Windows to Other Worlds” below, developed by Puentes:
How were narratives understood and used in the initiative, and who did they aim to reach?
Narratives are not seen only as stories to share, but as a collective endeavor to imagine the future; a form of political power that shapes how people can take concrete actions to influence it. Drawing from the narrative exploration awards from the Inspiratorio, the focus was on amplifying narratives rooted in hope and on creating space for communities to imagine different horizons, particularly around environmental conservation, climate change and gender justice.
The initiative engaged local communities, including groups with different and sometimes conflicting perspectives, especially around gender. At the outset, some participants were hesitant to engage with people whose values or behaviors they did not share. Over time, the process helped shift perspectives on all sides. Luisa, a feminist working to preserve the ecosystems of the Eastern Plains explains: “through this work with Puentes, I’ve started to understand the need to identify our audiences […] We have to figure out how to work with these guys, because they’re the ones who need to change.”
Diego was one of ‘these guys’. A llanero (herdsman), like the character he voiced, he describes how the radio soap opera changed his life (see more about the process below). In patriarchal and macho cultural contexts, meaningful change requires men standing in solidarity with women. Working with men like Diego is essential to gaining traction with other men, especially landowners who often turn to deforestation in pursuit of more profitable cattle ranching. Engaging them requires trusted peer voices who can help broaden their understanding of the deeper consequences of these choices: the degradation of ancestral lands, the risks faced by women defending these territories, and the erosion of community cohesion.
This kind of partnership is critical not only for the present, but for shaping the values and the lives of future generations. Young boys, like Diego’s son—who feels free to express himself in small but meaningful ways, like choosing pink plates—embody the possibility of a more inclusive and equitable culture.
Watch the Dialogue below and meet Luisa and Diego, whose perspectives shifted as they engaged in narrative change work:
What approaches did you use?
Communities in the Eastern Plains have developed rich storytelling traditions, where music and sound play a central role. For ABC, sound offers a powerful way to visualize and connect, sometimes even more than images, which led to the creation of the Narrative and Sound Lab.
Together with the Cuidacultoras collective, ABC developed a radio soap opera that combines participatory storytelling and audio storytelling as its core approaches. Community voices and experiences are brought to life through sound, allowing complex issues to be explored in ways that are both accessible and engaging.
Dive into the episodes of Relatos del Futuro (in Spanish) and discover the stories imagined and voiced by the community: https://open.spotify.com/show/3s4DmGzPtEM95LTbmuJCVi
What activities were carried out?
The process began with collective reflection on environmental challenges affecting the territory. Participants were invited to imagine extreme future scenarios, helping to unlock creative thinking and open space for exploring possible alternatives.
Open calls were then launched to gather stories from community members, attracting a wide diversity of voices and experiences. These stories were analysed to identify shared values, which became the foundation of the radio soap opera, weaving together themes of conservation, climate change, and everyday life.
Community members were actively involved throughout the process, from contributing stories to lending their voices to the characters, making the production deeply participatory. With nothing more than a phone, people from across the community took part in this collective narrative journey.
What change did the initiative contribute to?
The initiative led to changes beyond the storytelling output, shifting perceptions among the community in how they perceive environmental and social issues. As Diego reflects: “it became a bridge—something that connected so many people, from all over. And it’s really moving to see people from other places connecting with this territory.”
It also helped make visible the links between environmental justice and gender justice, showing that these issues are deeply interconnected and need to be addressed together. Conserving the ecosystems of the Eastern Plains and dismantling patriarchal systems are part of the same struggle, calling for aligned narrative efforts.
Finally, the process opened new pathways for collaboration beyond the local context. It contributed, for instance, to a partnership with an Indigenous women’s organisation in Guatemala, leading to further joint narrative work and laying the groundwork for continued cross‑regional collaboration.
What are the main lessons from the initiative?
The success of Relatos del Futuro lies in three key ingredients:
- Active hope: Grounding the narratives in hope helped people engage with a sense of possibility and move into action. Rooted in the spirit of the Eastern Plains, participants were able to imagine horizons without limits. Watch the video below to learn more about how ABC cultivates hope:
- Radical imagination: Echoing the extreme weather patterns of the Eastern Plains, ABC and Puentes created space to imagine bold and alternative futures. Fiction helps expand the boundaries of what we believe is possible. Watch the video below to see radical imagination come to life:
- Expanded connections: Just as the Flooded Savannas connect water and land, the initiative highlighted the importance of building connections, across communities, issues, and geographies. These connections not only fostered change locally but also opened pathways for collaboration beyond the initial context. Watch the video below to explore how these connections unfolded in practice:
