BOGOTA, WILLEMSTAD – Curaçao's public housing foundation, Fundashon Kas Popular (FKP), has welcomed the international recognition awarded to Bogotá for its housing program, Mi Casa en Bogotá, describing the achievement as confirmation of the approach Curaçao has adopted through its own Mi Kas Awor initiative.
In 2026, Mi Casa en Bogotá received the World Smart City Award in the Housing category, standing out among 533 submissions from 68 countries. The program was recognized for its integrated approach, combining access to housing, neighborhood revitalization, mobility, and social inclusion.
According to FKP, the award is particularly significant for Curaçao because the island's Mi Kas Awor housing initiative was developed partly through knowledge and experience shared by Colombian housing experts.
Colombian Expertise Helped Shape Curaçao's Housing Strategy
In March 2023, Colombian experts Luis Felipe Henao and Simón Gaviria visited FKP to present their country's experience with programs designed to help families purchase their own homes.
Representatives of public housing organizations from the former Netherlands Antilles also attended the meeting, which provided an opportunity to exchange knowledge about housing policies and financial assistance mechanisms.
During the discussions, Minister Charles Cooper expressed his vision for Curaçao to develop a similar program that would allow local families to become homeowners through purchase subsidies.
Following the meeting, Cooper made the strategic decision to further explore the Colombian housing models and examine how their underlying principles could be adapted to Curaçao's circumstances.
According to FKP, this process of international knowledge exchange contributed to the development of the local housing initiative now known as Mi Kas Awor.
Bogotá Wins Prestigious International Recognition
Three years after the initial exchange of expertise, Bogotá's housing program has received international recognition through the World Smart City Award 2026.
The award acknowledges the city's approach to addressing housing challenges through policies that extend beyond the construction or purchase of individual homes.
Mi Casa en Bogotá combines housing accessibility with neighborhood improvements, transportation considerations, and social inclusion, recognizing that sustainable housing development must also contribute to the quality of life within communities.
FKP considers this recognition an important indication that integrated housing policies can deliver meaningful social and economic benefits.
Although the award was presented to Bogotá, the foundation believes the principles behind the Colombian program are relevant to Curaçao's efforts to expand homeownership opportunities.
Mi Kas Awor Aims to Help More Families Become Homeowners
Curaçao's Mi Kas Awor initiative was developed to make homeownership more accessible to families who may otherwise face financial barriers to purchasing a property.
The program's approach is based on providing purchase subsidies that can help eligible households take the step toward owning their own homes.
FKP emphasized that the initiative reflects a broader vision in which housing policy can contribute to financial stability, community development, and long-term economic opportunities.
The foundation views the international recognition of Bogotá's program as support for Curaçao's decision to explore housing solutions informed by successful experiences abroad.
At the same time, Mi Kas Awor remains a locally developed initiative designed to respond to the specific housing needs and circumstances of Curaçao.
FKP Congratulates Bogotá and Colombian Experts
FKP extended its congratulations to Bogotá and the experts who shared their knowledge with Curaçao during the development of its housing strategy.
The foundation emphasized that the award demonstrates how a well-structured housing program can create lasting improvements in people's lives, neighborhoods, and the wider economy.
According to FKP, the recognition reinforces its confidence that Mi Kas Awor represents a relevant and contemporary approach to addressing Curaçao's housing challenges.
What began as an international exchange of expertise has since developed into a Curaçao housing initiative intended to help more families achieve the goal of homeownership.
FKP believes the experience illustrates the value of international cooperation and the importance of adapting proven policy approaches to local circumstances.
The foundation concluded that Bogotá's success provides further encouragement for Curaçao to continue developing housing solutions that support families, strengthen communities, and create opportunities for sustainable social and economic development.