Give at-risk Colombian children a safe home

CHILDREN´S HOME “NUEVO AMANECER”

Sixty children and teenagers, mostly groups of siblings, who have had to be separated from their parents due to physical abuse, poverty or forced displacement, live in our home “Nuevo Amanecer”, a place where their rights protection is guaranteed.  They have been exposed to abuse and neglect from their poverty stricken parents and have had little opportunity to access education. For this reason, the ICBF (Colombian Institute of Family Welfare) has taken them into a protection program in which their basic rights have been re established. 

These children can live there until their parents can prove that they can take responsibility for their upbringing. This can take up to four years - depending on the circumstances. Parents are allowed to visit their children once a week during the time they are under protection. At the same time the team of “Nuevo Amanecer”, which includes a psychologist, a social worker, a nutritionist, an occupational therapist, a doctor, two trainers and a nurse; work hard to prepare every detail for them to be able to enjoy a holiday season full of love, games and gifts, as every child around the world dreams of. They know that they are able to receive these gifts thanks to the generous support of our donors.

  EMERGENCY CENTRES

 Our emergency centres “Albachiara” and “Casacorazones”, located in the neighborhood Gustavo Restrepo in the south of Bogotá, never close their doors. The boys at these centres are referred by the local centre of ICBF or the children´s police unit and are admitted at any time of day and night. They do not get there by their own free will as they are often found consuming drugs, they have committed an offense or that they have been involved in the most dangerous situations. They are also aware that they must go through a process of diagnosis of their problems to subsequently begin recovery in the institution designated by the evaluation committee in charge of their case. The team of professionals working there are always willing to give them a warm welcome and make them feel the warmth of home.

 The admission of 850 children and teenagers to this program throughout 2013 clearly indicates the serious situation of young people with regard to consumption of psychoactive substances and their engagement in illegal activities. It is not easy for them to know that they will be spending Christmas away from their families; however they seem to be happy to be under the care of the foundation´s team. There will be gifts, candles, Christmas dinner and lots of activities run by volunteers to celebrate the New Year.