Feed the Future: Nourish 120 Underprivileged Dream

As 2023 comes to an end, concerning reports on child malnutrition and food insecurity in Colombia have surfaced. On December 24, El Espectador, a prominent media outlet, highlighted over 23 thousand cases of child malnutrition nationwide, with Bogota alone registering 3,200 cases. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) underscores a significant challenge, revealing that 15.5 million Colombians grapple with food insecurity, affecting 19% of Bogota's population, equivalent to 1,529,977 people.

In a year marked by impactful generosity, the persistent challenges demand united efforts to bridge inequality gaps and save lives. Tackling hunger remains an arduous task, particularly in a nation shadowed by a history of violence, where informal labor constrains families, opportunities are stifled, climate change erases hard-earned progress, and distant conflicts bring inevitable consequences. As a society, we must persist in our determined endeavors to surmount these complexities and forge a path towards a more equitable future.

Throughout this year, the Food Bank of Bogota, in collaboration with its dedicated team of allies, donors, volunteers, and partners, significantly expanded its efforts. A remarkable achievement of 17,573,000 kg of products was delivered to families facing vulnerability nationwide. This success is a testament to the leadership, determination, will, and commitment of everyone who supported and believed in our mission. Key highlights of 2023 include swift and effective responses to emergencies in Quetame and Guayabetal, the impactful campaign "Not even artificial intelligence has the answer against hunger," and the unprecedented second edition of “Una Novena Por Bogotá” event on December 19 at the Movistar Arena, uniting over seven thousand people that provided more than 55 thousand kgs of nutritious food to the most vulnerable families during Christmas. Additionally, our Navidar campaing that surpassed its goal and delivered 80.000 food baskets. Our assistance extended its reach to vital regions, including but not limited to La Guajira, Chocó, Cundinamarca, Cauca, Nariño, and Caquetá. This impactful outreach was made possible by the invaluable generosity of our partner companies

As we conclude this final report for 2023, our heartfelt gratitude extends to those who've stood with us in the battle against hunger. Your solidarity is a privilege, and together, we reaffirm our status as the best team in the pursuit of a more equitable, just, and inclusive country.

As we look towards 2024, let's persist with unwavering determination, motivation, and generosity in confronting all the challenges that we migth face. Our collective efforts empower those who might struggle on their own, creating a stronger support system for everyone. Once again we invite you to continue “Together Against Hunger”

Links:

• Bogota Food Bank website

In Bogotá, where hope fights against adversity, alliances that transcend solidarity's limits are born daily. We want to tell you today about our efforts with several social organizations so young people in excluded areas of the city can have a bright future. We seek to provide decent opportunities for all and prevent any child from going to school hungry. The focal point of our actions is the population from 0 to 21 years of age and their families, those who live informally but are hard workers: recyclers, street vendors, service employees, children of inmates, and addicts.

In these spaces, children and young people find decent opportunities. Some testimonies tell how sometimes children arrive in search of paper to do their homework because they don't have 0,12 cents to buy it; others go to get internet access, unfortunately, a privileged service in the most vulnerable areas.

We cheer and encourage families who want to move forward and strive daily to grow and live with dignity. We transform realities through different programs: Hunger should not be a barrier to the learning process and development of the little ones. The purpose is to avoid children going to school with hunger, thus guaranteeing a daily diet to counteract malnutrition and combat dropout. What we do is that the man who sells ice cream and earns $1.21 a day can buy what his familiy needs with his limited resources. We allow him to acquire safe and nutritious food regardless of his financial circumstances. Many might not realize it, but having Greek yogurt is a privilege for a vulnerable family. Schools of music, dance, theater, soccer, and English programs offer safe spaces where each child can dream big and develop their talents. Saturdays are filled with laughter, inspiration, and hope, away from the risks and dangers of the streets. Effort and dedication find an incomparable reward in this program. Dedicated and committed young people can acquire scholarships with partners in universities or specialized training institutions. This initiative provides them with opportunities to further their professional lives and nurtures their dreams of a promising future.

Many believe that poor people are poor because they want to be, nothing further from the truth. Unfortunately, in our country, thousands lack possibilities and opportunities. These children deserve to develop their skills and abilities like children from more privileged whereabouts. The goal is to find in the academy, art, and sports possibilities to improve their living conditions and prevent them from falling into drug use or various types of violence characteristic of the street.

The synergy between the Bogota Food Bank and the different social organizations it works with has been a seed of change and love. The horizon is full of hope because we know that the development of each of these children and young people is also the development of our country. Seeding for bright futures, we demonstrate that the world blossoms with infinite possibilities when we unite for a noble cause.

Thank you for supporting our daily effort. Today, we invite you, once again, to walk with us and support our tasks to ensure that food in Colombia becomes a right and not a privilege.

To learn more about our job, please visit us at www.bancodealimentos.org.co

Links:

• Bogota Food Bank website