Help 2,000 at-risk youth in Colombia build peace

The past two months could have been relatively relaxed in terms of planned activities at our youth centers, due to the winter break from school that usually lasts from the end of December until the end of February. Although the ludotecas aren't officially in session during these months, this year we offered an alternative break to our beneficiaries that desired to participate.

In January and February of 2014, we served around 320 beneficiaries; the children and youths from the barrios surrouding our four youth centers. Our goal was to promote good habits in the constructive use of free time through recreational and educational activities, helping diminish idle and delinquent behavior. Based on the smiles and positive energy generated over the past two months (see pictures below), I think it's safe to say we succeeded.

Although it's winter, the weather in Colombia allows for lots of outdoor fun. Over the past two months, our youth centers focused on outdoor and environmental activities, ranging from sports, to trips to local parks, excursions to pools, and the simple act of playing outside in the fresh air!

Another line of focus was awareness and care for the environment. We taught the children how to make small gardens with recycled plastic containers and bottles, along with field trips to local ecological reserves and farms. All these activities help to plant a seed in the minds of these young persons of how important sustainability is, not just in terms of natural resources, but relationships with our neighbors, communities, and rest of the world.

Again, it has to be said that all these activities wouldn't be possible without the aid from our generous donors and supporters like yourselves. We want to thank you for your continued support and let you know that we can only continue to generate positive impact with your help!

Finally, we want to inform you of the first fundraising campaign for FSV in 2014 on GlobalGiving, coming up over the next month. In continuation with our environmental theme, we are going to install and maintain organic farms on four green spaces on the property of the Foundation, not being used for anything. They will help provide food security for our youth centers, providing healthy food from seed to plate to our beneficiaries, along with selling surplus produce in order to help cover program costs.

Please keep us in mind and we hope that you will make the decision to donate over the next two months in order to help continue this project on GlobalGiving!

Donate here!:

http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/help-2000-youth-in-colombia-build-peace/

Merry Christmas! Or better said, Feliz Navidad!

For our final report of 2013, we would like to report that the Solidarity Foundation of the Visitacion has enjoyed a year full of accomplishments, everything from more children and youths enrolling in our violence prevention programs to landing this partnership with GlobalGiving, allowing us to spread our mission globally. 

Our four youth centers have been extremely busy, preparing for the end of the semester and the artistic exhibitions that accompany that process. You see, all your support helps go to programs like this, and these end of the year shows help show what these youths have learned. They spend hours practicing and making constructive use of free time, instead of being out on the streets after school. As you'll see in the attached You tube videos, not only are they developing creative skills, they are gaining a sense of pride- all of which contributes to the development of resilient attitudes towards violence and delinquent behavior. 

All through December, these groups of talented young people are putting on performances in the name of peace and transforming their neighborhoods for the better. Through dance, music, reading, and acting, our young people are changing the social landscape of Medellin through the creation of values in themselves and those around them.

There is nothing like seeing a child discover enjoyment in a talent or activity. All the smiles flying around today are proof of that.

Once again, thanks to all our donors and supporters for making this possible and make sure to check out our Facebook page.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from sunny Colombia. We'll see you in 2014!

-William Winters

Assistant Project Leader

Links:

• Our Youths in Action!
• Facebook page