Jheyde, 13, is among more than 1 million Venezuelans in Colombia who left because of hunger and poverty. She finally found stability and success in school.
Why World Vision is in Colombia
In 2018, Colombians voted in a new president, their youngest ever. And by the end of the year, more than a million Venezuelan migrants were living in the country, often in regions already marked by violence and a lack of health services. Problems that affect the most vulnerable are on the rise. In 2018, record numbers of violence and abuse against children were reported. Malnutrition rates are rising, as are reports of domestic or sexual violence against women. Diseases that were once nearly eradicated are spreading because of the migrant influx. Despite these setbacks, overall levels of extreme poverty are steadily falling in Colombia. With the generosity of partners and donors, our staff worked to love and care for the most vulnerable people. Our Hope Without Borders program is supporting Venezuelan migrants by working with families, especially children and adolescents, to provide education, food, jobs, child protection, and health care. Community health workers are running immunization campaigns to prevent diseases spreading, and Child-Friendly Spaces and schools are giving displaced kids safe and stable places to learn and play. After years of effort, the country’s government is partnering with us and others in a national campaign to end violence against children. By training community leaders, mothers, and teachers about how to protect children, we’re helping empower more people to nurture and love children in the ways they deserve.
We never give up on people
World Vision child sponsorship looks at all the things that prevent children from surviving and thriving in their community, and then works with that community to bring all the pieces of the puzzle together to build a better life for all children. For sponsors, it’s a personal way to show God’s love to a child in need in a life-changing way.
Sponsor a child in Colombia ❯
Progress in Colombia
Thanks to the generous support of donors, we’re making great progress toward the well-being of children and their families.
Child Protection and Care
Boys and girls are safe and valued, well cared for by their families, and participating in their communities as agents of transformation.
- Adults in the community learned to promote safety of children. They attended trainings where they learned how to seek assistance for protection concerns and how to mobilize community networks to protect children.
- Children learned skills to communicate and resolve conflicts, promoting a culture of peace. So that they can use these skills in their communities and at school, they learned about citizenship, their rights and responsibilities, which helped to develop their leadership skills.
Healthy Children and Families
Children and families are well nourished, protected from infection and disease, and have access to essential health services.
- Parents participated in workshops on hygiene where they learned to keep their children safe from infections and disease.
- To keep their children well-nourished and healthy, parents learned how to prepare healthy and nutritious foods for their children.
Education for Better Lives
Children have opportunities to learn and to develop their talents, young people are equipped for the future, and families and communities support children's education.
- In Colombia, students gained life skills to support their education and employment opportunities. In the trianings, they strengthened their social skills and learned how to be peacemakers at school.
Prayer Requests from Colombia
World Vision's staff in Colombia are asking us to join them in prayer for the following:
God’s healing will come to children who have experienced abuse, and families and the government will take action to stop the rising violence against innocent children.
God will provide abundantly for children who are malnourished, that their families will be able to get healthy food for them to grow up strong.
News from Colombia
From the Field
Boy’s family goes hungry in Colombia so he can pursue dream
Venezuela is in crisis. The economy has collapsed, and an uprising of political opposition to President Nicolas Maduro has put the country’s leadership in question. Armando is one of more than 4 million Venezuelans — 5,000 per day in 2018 — who have left the country seeking food, work, and a better life.
From the Field
A sponsored child’s life in Colombia comes full circle
As a teenager and sponsored child in Colombia, Mayerly Sanchez co-led a Children’s Peace Movement that was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize. She’s still fighting violence with love.
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