Karin Columba

Executive Director

A native Bolivian, Karin brings over 20 years of firsthand experience working with indigenous and rural communities in Latin America in a variety of development and environmental initiatives, including serving as Executive Director of Fundación Amigos de la Naturaleza for nine years in Bolivia. She joined One Equal Heart in February of 2019.

“I am truly excited about serving as Director of  One Equal Heart because I believe that working with indigenous peoples and communities makes the world a little more equitable and connects us with the diversity and richness of our cultures.”

Karin received her Master of Science in Planning and Environment in 1997 from the International Center for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies in Zaragoza, Spain; her Bachelor in Agricultural Businesses Administration in 1991 from Universidad Fundación Tecnológica Antonio de Arévalo in Cartagena, Colombia; her Graduate Diploma in Management of Small Businesses in 2014 from the University Oberta of Catalunya in Barcelona, Spain; and she completed an Executive Management Program (PAG) in 2006 with the INCAE Business School in Alajuela, Costa Rica.

Living in the Puget Sound region with her husband and beloved pets, Karin likes to explore natural parks, have coffee time with a book or her friends, and watch soccer in her free time.

ISABEL BARJA

Fundraising and Monitoring Officer

Isabel was born in Tarija, southern Bolivia. She grew up in a family where both parents worked on social justice projects: supporting indigenous communities and children working on the street. That power experience molded Isabel’s social commitment to participate in the social work of her church and develop their future interest to join organizations in the social justice sector.

She has a B.A. in Tourism Administration at the Universidad Católica Boliviana San Pablo in La Paz and she completed a Specialization in Environmental Management and Disaster Prevention at the Sergio Arboleda University in Bogota, Colombia.

Her work experience is associated with human rights and the rights of nature.  Early in her career, she worked with the Swiss Cooperation Agency on sustainable and community tourism projects in Bolivia and Colombia. Before joining One Equal Heart, Isabel worked for five years with Ayuda en Acción, as a grant assistant for projects that supported 15,000 children and their families in four rural regions of Bolivia. Isabel specialized in administrative monitoring.

In August 2021, Isabel joined One Equal Heart as Fundraising and Project Monitoring Officer. ''I am grateful and motivated to contribute to the sorority of women in Chiapas, promoting their leadership in sustainable development, based on the richness of their culture.''

Isabel lives in La Paz with her husband Marcelo and their two children Sofia and Leticia. She enjoys spending her free time with family and friends, traveling, and listening to music. She is an animal lover and advocate.