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Colombia is experiencing a second wave of the pandemic. On 4 February, the total case count exceeded 2.1 million and the number of active cases was 79,146. In some cities, intensive care (ICU) wards for COVID-19 patients are close to overflowing. The capital city, Bogota, ended its red alert on 2 February, as its COVID-19 ICU occupancy sank to 81%. Colombia is scheduled to launch a mass vaccination drive on 20 February.
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Thank you for praying for children and families in Colombia who have been impacted by COVID-19—and the local staff and churches who continue to serve them in difficult circumstances.
For the small town of Palmira in Colombia, water is a scarce resource—which makes fending off a pandemic a difficult task. Thankfully, the brother of a tutor at Peniel Child Development Centre offered a solution in the form of a hands-free washing station. Read more open_in_new
The situation
Since January 2021, two gangs have been fighting for territory in Buenaventura, forcing many families to leave their homes due to the violent gang activity. There is an increasing police presence in the city. Unfortunately, illegal armed groups continue to recruit teenagers and youth.
Global Compassion impact
Number of local church partners affected: 2 Number of Compassion assisted children affected: 262
New information
Affected children and families are being supported practically through the local church, who are also providing counseling to the local community during this difficult time.
Prayer
Please continue to pray for peace in the area, as well as comfort and support of traumatised people in the community.
The situation
Throughout February 2021 heavy rains caused flooding in the Buenaventura area. Many homes have been damaged. Fortunately, the rainfall has now decreased and all affected families were able to be supported.
Global Compassion impact
Number of local church partners affected: 0 Number of Compassion assisted children affected: 17
Prayer
Please pray for the continued protection over and provision for children, families, and church partners in Buenaventura.
The situation
Waves of violence continue in Buenaventura. Hundreds of people have peacefully protested the violence and security in some communities has worsened.
Global Compassion impact
Number of local church partners affected: 2 Number of Compassion assisted children affected: 146
New information
The national disaster response team in Colombia is working to ensure church staff are not put at risk. Compassion's national leadership staff (NLT) met with the local pastors to listen to their concerns and pray for them. The church partners need additional support at this time, so the NLT plans to meet with local pastors weekly. The affected families are receiving counseling, spiritual encouragement and tangible support as needed. Some of the national staff and 27 counselors were involved in sessions with security specialists to learn how to deal with violent situations and provide support for children and families.
Prayer
Please pray for protection and God’s peace for the pastors, children and families living in the Buenaventura area, as well as other communities who are inundated with violence.
Please note: Due to the current pandemic, most child development centres in Colombia are temporarily closed. Our local church partners continue to meet the urgent needs of the children through home-based care.
Compassion’s program is contextualised across countries and communities, as well as age groups.
Compassion assisted children in Colombia typically attend program activities at their local child development centre before or after school. Here is an example of what a typical program day looks like for children in Colombia.
Devotional time - Children are taught to pray.
Spiritual lessons - Children sing songs and learn Bible stories. Children usually receive their own Bible within a year of joining the Child Sponsorship Program.
Break and snack time - Children can play in a safe environment and develop friendships. They are often provided a snack of biscuits and juice.
Social-emotional lessons - Children learn conflict resolution skills and how to develop healthy self-esteem and a godly character. Children often come from challenging home environments and are taught social and personal skills.
Lunch and social time - Children generally receive a snack and lunch at the centre twice a week. Lunch usually consists of rice and beans. If the children do not receive food at school, the local church aims to provide lunch each day.
Health lessons - Children learn practical health and hygiene lessons.
Letter writing and career planning - Older children work with local staff to identify their strengths and interests and set goals for their future.
Children are also encouraged to join in activities such as sports, yearly camps, festivals and spiritual retreats. Students can elect vocational training skills, such as computer maintenance, beauty skills, tailoring, baking and shoe making. Parents and caregivers are invited to workshops on parenting skills.
mothers die from pregnancy related causes per 100,000 births
of people lack access to improved sanitation
children under the age of five die per 1000 births
For over five decades, Colombia was wracked by a civil war. The vicious, ongoing fighting left millions of people killed, injured, missing or displaced—many of them children.
The Colombian government estimates that 3.6 million people have been displaced since 2000; 75 per cent are women and children, many of whom now live in shanty towns around major cities and have little access to medical care, education, safe water and basic health services.
FARC (the most notorious and powerful insurgent group) signed a historic peace treaty in 2016 with the government, but splinter groups have rejected the peace deal and trafficking cartels and gangs still control large swaths of the nation. Violence is rising once again. Colombia remains one of the world’s top cocaine producers—and Australia is a significant export market.
Conservative Ivan Duque of the Democratic Centre Party won the Presidential election in 2018, becoming one of the nation’s youngest leaders. So far, his response to the COVID-19 pandemic has won him approval and seen his popularity soar. Yet allegations of vote-rigging and corruption against his administration persist.
And the poorest sections of society, including Colombia’s indigenous people, continue to struggle.
One-third of all Colombian children suffer from anaemia, and approximately 13 per cent of children under five years old suffer growth stunting caused by chronic malnutrition. Around four per cent of children between the ages of five and 14 are involved in child labour, which can interfere with their ability to attend school and expose them to dangerous situations.
Across the country, local churches continue to support and encourage children and their families, reaching out to those in need. With support from Compassion and generous sponsors, these local churches work to release children from poverty in Jesus’ name.
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