Aldeas Infantiles SOS Colombia

SOS Children's Villages started its first program in Bogota, Colombia in 1968 with an innovative service addressed to children who were not receiving adequate care from their families. During the past 50 years, more than 100,000 children, adolescents and young people in Colombia have benefited from the work of the organization. SOS Children's Villages is present in 135 countries and territories, providing care and protection to the most vulnerable children in society. In Colombia, we work with children (in the context of the country's armed conflict) who are particularly vulnerable of being separated from their families, are at constant risk due to violence and internal displacem... read more SOS Children's Villages started its first program in Bogota, Colombia in 1968 with an innovative service addressed to children who were not receiving adequate care from their families. During the past 50 years, more than 100,000 children, adolescents and young people in Colombia have benefited from the work of the organization. SOS Children's Villages is present in 135 countries and territories, providing care and protection to the most vulnerable children in society. In Colombia, we work with children (in the context of the country's armed conflict) who are particularly vulnerable of being separated from their families, are at constant risk due to violence and internal displacement, are unaccompanied, their parents/family members are involved in illegal groups or their families are victims of these groups. As part of our intervention model, we accompany children and families to improve children's access to education, health care, civic participation and economic livelihoods. We provide a protective care environment, focusing our efforts on the right to grow up as part of a family while protecting children and adolescents from the violence of illegal armed groups, forced recruitment, the worst forms of child labor, sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), neglect and other violations of their rights. We do this by strengthening the capacities of families, schools, communities and government to provide protection for children, adolescents and young adults. We provide family-based care for children who have lost their parental care. SOS Children's Villages endeavors to give direct access to safe and protective environments for vulnerable children while working with families, communities and authorities (local, municipal, departmental and national) to create and implement child protection policies.Currently, in its long-term programming, SOS Children's Villages Colombia is present in 10 cities and municipalities where approximately 12,000 children, adolescents, young adults, and families through programmes in the departments of Choco, Tolima, Narino, Antioquia, Santander, Valle del Cauca, Bolivar, Caldas, Cundinamarca and the city of Bogota.