Vida En Comunidad Area Program

Program Type

Community Development

Planned Life Cycle

2011 - 2021

Location

Colombia

Areas of Focus

Child Protection and Participation

Program Timeline

Status: Closed

Progress

1of children and teens are now enrolled in school, and 1,833 have improved their literacy through reading workshops

Progress

2,350children and their families were trained to treat and prevent illness though health workshops

Progress

1,933family members learned about healthy sexuality, preventing early pregnancy and acting against sexual violence

The community of Vida En Comunidad has graduated

In 2021, the community has transitioned from sponsorship to self-sufficiency and World Vision is no longer on site. Local people and organizations have been equipped to take over and lead the community's development - and that is something to celebrate!

A white jeep driving through a muddy path, featuring a rainbow and trees in the background.

Program Details

With the help of your generous and loving support, life in Vida En Comunidad has transformed. Children and families are much stronger now. The community has met its goals, they have graduated to self-sufficiency and World Vision has left the community to help another one. Your support will have a lasting impact for years to come.

Context

Located on the outskirts of Santiago de Cali, the Vida en Comunidad community is a very violent area. From the outside, the community appears quite ordinary " neat row houses built by the government, buses easily available. Despite appearances, however, there is great danger here, especially for children. The tiny, one-bedroom homes are chronically overcrowded. The result of government housing projects, the community was originally intended to shelter families fleeing civil unrest in other parts of the country.

Now, the area is controlled by rival gangs from the Afro or the mestizo (mixed Amerindian and European) populations. Gangs control specific streets that have become their territory, and the environment is like an urban civil war. Yet, both groups " in fact the whole community " are shunned and excluded from the wider society.

Children here live under constant threat of gang and domestic violence. Many are pressured into militia groups to carry arms and ply drugs. With little hope for change, many children and youth abandon school to work and help their families survive. Jobs opportunities are often withdrawn or services denied to people who live in the area once their address becomes known, so unemployment is rampant. Families lack the education needed to get better jobs, so they survive from day to day on low wages as domestic and construction workers, selling goods, or begging on the streets.

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An image of children sitting on the ground in a classroom, writing in workbooks.

Results

Unless otherwise stated, data presented on this page reflects the most up-to-date results of World Vision Canada programs reported between October 2022 and September 2023, and any previous fiscal years available. Previously reported data may not match the current presentation as we continuously receive and refine data from our programs. If you have any questions, kindly reach out to us.