Protect 50 children with safe housing in Medellin

Colombia is a developing country characterized by its high levels of social and economic inequality, which affect directly many children and families. More than 30% of Colombian population live in poverty conditions, of whom 10% are classified in extreme poverty. This is linked to situations of violence, neglect, drug trafficking and lack of opportunities (DANE, 2013).

Therefore, the country requires programs to help respond to the need to provide protection and ensure a comprehensive development to vulnerable children. In Superarse, we offer integral care to 25 children and young people living in situations of abuse, mistreatment, neglect and violence, issues that prevents them from living with their families. We provide them with decent shelter, complete and balanced food, education, school support, psychosocial support, human formation and health.

The house where children and youth live has been fully refurbished, improving the delivery of services and expanding the capacity of 25 to 40 users.

These are the main achievements for the first trimester in the program:

• The children spent their Christmas holydays in the company of trained families in Sopetran, enjoying the possibility to share family experiences that they do not have in their daily routines
• 100% of the children are enrolled in the education system, through educational institutions in the sector; furthermore, we implemented strategies of effective school support
• The children started their participation in cultural and sport programs which contribute developing capacities and abilities
• The children received interdisciplinary attention (Neurology, Psychiatry, Odontology…)  reaching important milestones in their development process
• The children were champions in the “friendship tournament” which promotes values of friendship and self- esteem
• We implemented the projects “exploring the web” and “promotion of reading” enhancing reading and technological abilities in the children´s formation process

The new spaces in the house are:

• 4 bedrooms
• 2 new bathrooms with their showers
• New laundry space
• New room for food storing
• New floor and improvements in the kitchen
• Celling
• Dining room

We implemented these projects during the period:

Social Work:

• Maltreatment prevention and promotion of healthy relationships
• It is possible in family
• Friendly Families “Blanca Luz Restrepo” - Recreation

Psychology:

My life project

• “You decide, decide well” – Drug prevention
• Responsible sexuality – Sexual education
• “Building roads” – life project

Education:

• Building with the hands
• Movies and literature
• Talking we are more
• While we go back home
• Exploring the web

Nutrition:

Nutritional attention and health

Here is a testimony from a beneficiary, he is 17 years old:

“My life has been transformed in Superarse, I will never forget the day I arrived to the Corporation, at the beginning I wanted to run away, today I thank God every day because I found the family I was always looking for, all my hopes are in Superarse”

We want to thank you once again for walking with us through this exiting path, together we transform the lives of many children and adolescents, filling them with hopes and dreams that come true thank to you.