DistantNews
A Coffee to Find Her; While Millions Celebrate Mother's Day, a Colombian Searches for His
🇲🇽 Mexico /Culture & Society

A Coffee to Find Her; While Millions Celebrate Mother's Day, a Colombian Searches for His

From El Universal · (4h ago) Spanish Mixed tone

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • A Colombian man is using coffee bags with his missing mother's image to search for her.
  • His mother disappeared nearly four years ago, and he hopes the campaign will keep her memory alive and solicit information.
  • The initiative has gained traction on social media, with many offering support and sharing the story.

In Colombia, the pain of disappearance is a wound that runs deep, affecting thousands of families. Sergio Delgado's initiative, 'Un café para encontrarla' (A coffee to find her), is a poignant testament to the enduring hope and love that drives those searching for their missing loved ones.

Su madre, Rosalba Velandia Salazar, salió de su casa en Piedecuesta, en el departamento de Santander (noroeste), el 14 de julio de 2022 sin teléfono celular, sin dinero y sin llaves, mientras atravesaba un periodo difícil por un diagnóstico psiquiátrico, cuenta Delgado a EFE en Pereira, capital de Risaralda, en la zona cafetera del centro del país.

— Sergio DelgadoExplaining the circumstances of his mother's disappearance.

While millions celebrated Mother's Day, Sergio's story highlights the stark reality for families like his, where joy is overshadowed by absence. His decision to feature his mother, Rosalba Velandia Salazar, on coffee bags is a creative and deeply personal way to keep her memory alive and to leverage the daily ritual of coffee drinking into a tool for discovery.

De ahí no se sabe nada más. Se presumen muchas hipótesis, pero no sé hacia dónde pudo haber tomado mi mamá.

— Sergio DelgadoExpressing uncertainty about his mother's whereabouts after she was last seen at a toll booth.

This campaign transcends a simple commercial venture; it is a powerful act of remembrance and a plea for information. By placing Rosalba's face and story into the hands of consumers, Sergio is not just selling coffee, but also raising awareness and fostering a sense of collective responsibility. The QR code and contact information on each bag serve as a direct link to potential leads, transforming every purchase into a possible step towards closure.

Cuando ya fue oficialmente el lanzamiento de la marca, sentí mucha gratitud. La emoción de ver su rostro en un producto que las personas podían tener en sus manos fue algo maravilloso para mí.

— Sergio DelgadoDescribing his emotional reaction to launching the 'Un café para encontrarla' campaign.

The overwhelming support seen on social media underscores the empathy and solidarity within Colombian society for those affected by disappearances. This story resonates particularly strongly in a country that has grappled with the legacy of conflict and its devastating human cost. Sergio's unwavering dedication, amplified by this unique campaign, offers a beacon of hope, reminding us that the search for truth and reunion continues, one cup of coffee at a time.

El papel que cumple este emprendimiento es no perder la esperanza, para que la gente nunca olvide el rostro de mi mamá.

— Sergio DelgadoStating the core purpose of his coffee business initiative.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Universal in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog