Children living in poverty in Colombia face difficulty accessing clean water, education and sufficient food—particularly amid the global food crisis. 15.5 million Colombians are experiencing food insecurity.
With your generous support, our local church partners are responding to the global food crisis through initiatives like agricultural training. Families are learning how to grow crops and raise farm animals so they can put food on the table and earn an income.
Watch the latest video update from Colombia below to learn more.
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Thank you for praying for staff, churches, children and families in Colombia we serve.
Ester is 9 years old and lives in a small town on Colombia’s Pacific coast. Many children in her community suffer from a lack of water. Buying water is not possible for many families who don’t have formal jobs. Before this project, Ester suffered from stomach aches and illnesses. But with the Compassion centre’s support, Ester and her family received a big water tank, a water filter and a table to place it on at home. Read more open_in_new
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.
of people live in extreme poverty
of people do not have access to safe drinking water
children under the age of 5 die per 1,000 births
Colombia’s diverse landscape has everything from snow-capped volcanoes and tropical beaches to dense rainforests and sprawling savannas. Music, dance and soccer are all important parts of Colombian culture.
More than five decades of conflict between the government and drug-trafficking militia has seen over five million people displaced by violence. This internal tension has exacerbated poverty by making it harder for vulnerable Colombian children and their families to access safe shelter, medical care and education.
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. And the poorest sections of society, including Colombia’s indigenous people, continue to struggle.
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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