When Ana Bolena Müller moved from Colombia to Germany in 2006, a new chapter began for her. The trained actress had to redirect her professional path. She found a new calling in her Colombian roots: she founded a social enterprise “Soy Bachué”, named after the Indigenous goddess Bachué, the “Mother of Humanity.” According to the legend, Bachué rose from a lake to give life and teach her people craftsmanship and how to live in harmony with nature. 

Soy Bachué also embodies this connection between people and nature. The enterprise brings together two worlds: the traditional knowledge of pre-Columbian cultures and the European avant-garde. Through co-design processes, Ana collaborates with Indigenous artisans from the Andes to develop new shapes and patterns for lamps, wall art, and textiles. 

“Our project is based on giving and taking,” explains Ana. “Our customers in Europe benefit from sustainable designs, and the designers in Colombia gain economic stability.” This allows the women to stay in their communities, preserve their culture, and protect nature at the same time. “The forests are our shared breath, our oxygen,” says Ana. 

In addition to Soy Bachué, Ana founded the interior design agency Sana Interior Urdesign to take the marketing of the products in Germany into her own hands. Entering the market is challenging. She received support through the Business Ideas for Development (BID) initiative of GIZ, which provided start-up capital, individual coaching, market analyses, and help in building an international network. 

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