Updated: March 2009
Colombia
Overview | World Vision's history in Colombia | World Vision in Colombia today
OverviewThe Republic of Colombia borders Panama to the south and is located at the point where the continents of North and South America meet. It is also bordered by Venezuela to the northeast, Brazil to the southeast, and Peru and Ecuador to the south. Colombia is the only country in South America with coastlines on both the Atlantic and the Pacific. The western half of the country, where the majority of the population lives, features the rugged Andes Mountains and flat coastal lowlands. The eastern half contains 270,000 square miles of flat plains and tropical rainforests. The climate varies depending on the elevation, with hot, tropical temperatures near sea level and dry, colder weather in the mountains. Natural resources include petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, gold, copper, and hydropower. Spanish is the official language of the country. Colombia has the second-largest number of Spanish speakers in the world after Mexico. German is spoken mostly in small rural communities, while French is used in some urban settings. There are also 65 indigenous languages spoken. More than half of the population is mestizo, a mixture of European and Amerindian. Other ethnic groups include Caucasians, mulattos, Afro-Colombians, and indigenous Amerindians. The Spanish sailed along the north coast of Colombia as early as 1500, but their first permanent settlement was not made until 10 years later. The area was made a colony in 1539 and dubbed New Granada, its name until the 19th century. A revolution against the government of Spain began in 1810 and lasted until independence was declared in 1824. |  |
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| La Violencia, a period of political insurrection between the Liberals and the Conservatives, broke out in 1946, lasting for 12 years and claiming hundreds of thousands of lives. Marxist guerilla groups—most notably the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC)—organized in the 1960s and 1970s, plunging the country into violence and instability. In the 1980s, Colombia became one of the international centers for illegal drug production and trafficking. In August 2002, current President Álvaro Uribe was elected to lead the country, pledging to crack down on rebel fighters and drug traffickers. He has increased Colombia’s security forces and has applied military pressure on FARC. The government has instituted several reforms that have decreased unemployment and grown the economy by more than 7.5 percent. Despite these successes, nearly half of Colombians still live in poverty. One reason for this is a high instance of income inequality. The richest 20 percent of the population earns 61 percent of the income, while the poorest 20 percent of people earn only 3 percent. Inequality exists even though the number of people living in extreme poverty has decreased and economic growth has increased—this is due to years of internal conflict between the government and FARC. The leftist FARC is the largest and oldest insurgent group in the Americas. The organization gained prominence in the 1980s when it launched violent attacks against the government, claiming to represent the rural poor against the wealthier classes. In the past two years, a strategic military campaign has dealt FARC a series of blows, including the deaths of two of its top leaders. Thousands of fighters have deserted the rebel group as a result. To date, an estimated 3 million people have been forced to abandon their homes due to the violence. Displaced people in the town of Arauca live in homes made of plastic sheeting with no electricity or running water. According to the World Bank, if the country had not been in conflict for the past 20 years, the annual income for the average Colombian would be 50 percent higher today. The average monthly income for an internally displaced person is $63 (U.S.), forcing most of them to reduce their consumption of food. Back to top World Vision's history in ColombiaWorld Vision began serving in Colombia in 1960 through a pastors conference in Medellin. Child sponsorship activities commenced in 1971, and over the next four years, World Vision focused on programs that alleviated hunger. A national office was opened in Bogotá in 1977. Activities included the establishment of income generation projects in poor areas, the provision of relief supplies to earthquake survivors, and the availability of health-care programs.At the end of the decade, nearly 10,000 children were sponsored in Colombia. World Vision provided new homes for 52 of the most impoverished families living in Bogotá, replacing shelters made of cardboard with homes made of brick and equipped with indoor plumbing. In 1979, the southern area of the Pacific Coast of Colombia was struck by a 7.8 magnitude earthquake. World Vision helped the hardest hit families rebuild their communities. From 1980 to 1989, World Vision helped meet the needs of thousands of Colombians by providing educational opportunities, health and hygiene products, and recreational activities for children. By 1989, nearly 35,000 children in 235 projects were benefiting from sponsorship. During the 1990s, relief projects for earthquake, fire, and flood survivors were conducted, as well as programs addressing nutrition, education, and community development needs. By 1995, 161 projects were benefiting more than 42,200 children. World Vision also focused on assisting women who were victims of rebel violence and abuse through workshops on health education, literacy training, and economic development strategies. In January 1999, a 6.0 magnitude earthquake hit the west-central region of Colombia. As a result, 1,185 people died, nearly 4,100 were injured, and more than 250,000 people, including 100,000 children, were left homeless. An estimated 36,000 houses were destroyed and 43,500 more were damaged. To assist rehabilitation efforts and promote holistic recovery, World Vision addressed the physical, economic, social, emotional, and spiritual needs of the affected families and children. In response to the tens of thousands of internally displaced people (IDPs) enduring food shortages, inadequate shelter, poor health care, lack of clean water, and limited employment and educational opportunities, World Vision has been offering ongoing help to 48,000 IDPs in Bogotá, Bucaramanga, Monteria, and Cali. Indirectly, thousands of people also have benefited from improved water and sanitation systems, construction and revitalization of schools, and community training. Additionally, the escalation of violence in Colombia has led to a serious need to strengthen local capacities for peace and reconciliation. World Vision has supported the active participation of 4,000 sponsored children in the Child Peacebuilding Movement, which is part of the National Movement of Children for Peace. These efforts seek to mobilize people to work toward peace, using Colombia’s future leaders to help achieve this goal. Back to top World Vision in Colombia todayWorld Vision is committed to partnering with the people of Colombia to enhance their lives today and to help enact sustainable solutions for the future of their communities, families, and children. Currently, 74,297 children are registered in the World Vision sponsorship program. Several times this number of children and other family members benefit from World Vision activities. Of these registered children, many have World Vision sponsors in other countries. U.S. donors sponsor more than 23,800 girls and boys. In addition, World Vision operates 20 development programs, six of which are supported by U.S. donors. A highlight of these efforts includes the following:
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