Our Vision
At BIENSUR, we dream of a world where all people, families, and communities live with dignity, autonomy, and holistic well-being. We envision societies that foster personal and collective growth through education in essential areas of well-being: mental and emotional health, reproductive health, financial health, and community health. We aspire to establish ourselves as a regional and international leader in holistic and sustainable interventions that promote equity, resilience, and fulfillment in communities.
Who are we?
Paulina Andrade, PhD, MS
My career began in the field of infectious diseases, researching dengue and Zika in vulnerable communities in Nicaragua and Ecuador. For over 15 years, I studied the immunology, virology, and epidemiology of these diseases. Through this work, I witnessed how poverty, isolation, lack of services, and gender-based violence also impact the health of vulnerable women. This understanding led me to realize that health also encompasses addressing emotional well-being, safety, autonomy, and life opportunities. This idea resonated deeply with my own personal path to holistic wellness, based on decades of meditation and yoga practice, and the scientific study of the mind-body connection and its impact on resilience and overall health.
This is how BIENSUR was born, where we promote the holistic well-being of vulnerable Indigenous and mestizo communities in Ecuador. From there, we develop interventions that promote emotional and mental health, sexual and reproductive health, prevention of gender-based violence, and financial autonomy, based on the conviction that holistic well-being empowers individuals and is a transformative force for communities.
Josefina Coloma, PhD
Since 2008, I have been the Executive Director of the Sustainable Sciences Institute (SSI). At SSI, I have focused on strengthening scientific and public health capacities in low- and middle-income countries in Latin America.
For over two decades, I have led global research efforts in infectious diseases and in developing technical capabilities in both academia and government. Concurrently, I am a research faculty at UC berkeley. of Public Health, where my work focuses on immunology, epidemiology, and the virology of arboviruses such as dengue and Zika. I have also designed and implemented clinical trials and community interventions.
Throughout my career, I have worked as a consultant for the World Health Organization, the Pan American Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and several ministries of health across Latin America. In addition, I have led the implementation of community-based interventions and community-based participatory research initiatives throughout the region.
