Sports for 5000 Colombian kids' dreams

5Kzuca sought to be a space of social integration where more than 500 children, young people and adults from different backgrounds had the opportunity to share experiences and create shared memories revolving around themes that require special attention in order to achieve social change.

The main objectives were: 

• To promote the transformation of negative images associated with life in the Altos de Cazucá through an untraditional running route.

• To promote the view of sports and healthy lifestyle habits as socially recognized and admired lifestyle choices by peers.

• To encourage the practice of activities during free time, especially athletics, through the participation of partners, sponsors and donors who contribute individually or corporately.  

• To be advocates and promoters of solutions to social problems that affect children and young people in the country, such as teenage pregnancy.

Since 2018, this strategy has been developed within the framework of Andean Week, organized by the Colombian Family Welfare Institute for the prevention of teenage pregnancies. And so, Tiempo de Juego was committed to this theme that promoted the 5K run and that raised awareness of the commitment to make conscious decisions about sexuality. As a result, in 2019, our joint efforts are focused on the awareness and prevention of teenage pregnancy.

We had the support of different governmental and private platforms, who donated water, energizers, cookies, cakes, deodorants, foot powders, etc. These were used to make kits that were given to the runners. In addition to this, Adidas donated enough equipment for us to be able to award prizes to the first three runners in each category of the 5Kzucá race.

Adult runners signed up for the race in advance and paid an entry fee to participate. They ran the first 4 kilometers alone and for the last kilometer they ran holding hands with a child from the Tiempo de Juego Foundation.

 The race had very positive results within the community and amongst the children. The foundation was able to become better known and, at the same time, it was able to raise awareness about teenage pregnancy.

Links:

• https://tiempodejuego.org/