Empower 40 Colombian kids in extreme poverty

During this last year 3,6 million of Colombians have lived in poverty conditions and 2,7 million in extreme poverty.  The effects of the pandemic and of lockdowns have been felt particularly in big cities. Just in the capital Bogotá poor people are now 3,3 million. This rate is higher for two of the worst affected categories of the Colombian society: women and young people. Youth unemployment rate is currently about 23.9%, 3.4% more than in march 2020, and it is even higher among women.

These facts explain why young people have been the protagonists of social protests, which have exploded in response to the fiscal reform of last April, project that has been withdrawn in May. According to a lot of mayors that organized the protests, this reform would have worsened the most vulnerable part of the population in the country, in particular the most affected by Covid-19 pandemic.

These protests have then embraced other claims, like the opposition to the governmental health reform. It’s clear why the most significative mobilizations have been organized in the poorest neighborhoods of big cities, where the initial already difficult situation has worsened. These are areas in which illegal groups operate and young people are possible recruits. Moreover, the relationship with the police is always tenser because of abuses, illegal detentions and threats.

In the meanwhile, Bogotá has registered during these days the higher number of Covid-19 infections since the beginning of the emergency. Colombia is facing a dramatic third wave of the pandemic and since April deaths have increased and hospitals are increasing. The World Health Organization has registered more than 4.4 million infections from the 3rd of January 2020 and July 2021.

Fortunately, all the children involved in our project haven’t been infected, but they have to keep on learning at distance without proper technological tools. Unfortunately, the center “Hogar San Jeronimo” is still temporarily closed and we are waiting for news from the government in order to restart providing educational and training programs and psychosocial support to the most vulnerable children and teenagers in Tunja. Chierici Somaschi are keeping in touch with them during after-school and are distributing food and essential goods.

We are thankful for your precious support that helps us to keep on working for these students involved in the project!   

In Bogotá, as well as throughout Colombia, the second wave of Covid-19 has been relatively rapid compared to the first one. The rise in the cases occurred between the end of December and the beginning of January, but fortunately after one month the situation has been under control and little by little restrictions have been relaxed. Currently the employment of intensive therapies is around 60% and according to the World Health Organization the cases confirmed are 2.3 millions and the pandemic has determined 61.143 deaths in the country. The vaccination campaign has begun but it has covered just 0.05% of the total population by now. Moreover, a part of the doses arrived is destined for the Amazon, where the Brazilian variant has been identified.

With reference to education, on February 8^th 2021 the government allowed the schools to reopen. Private schools were closed since December and now they have restarted their activities immediately, alternating distance teaching with teaching in presence. Differently, public schools have been completely closed since march 2020 and there will be students that will begin school with one missing school year. Children are often left to themselves: one day a week they should attend virtual classes, but most families does not have proper devices (like tablets, laptops or internet connection) and the participation rate is less than 20%. The mayor of Bogotá is urging public schools to open, but most of them do not have adequate space or enough funds in order to respect all safety rules, like buying masks and hand sanitizers.

At the beginning of the year the center "Hogar San Jeronimo" has been temporarily closed because it does not respond to organizational and professional requirements of the Government and as such is not considered a basic service that should remain open during this time of pandemics. Aleimar is working even more to bring all environments to standard and to improve the educational and training offer provided by the center. In fact, we want Hogar San Jeronimo's courses to receive professional recognition from the government. Currently, Chierici Somaschi is helping many children in the after-school to keep in touch with them and are distributing food and essential goods, but they cannot welcome them inside the center. Hogar San Jeronimo is a real point of reference for many young students of Tunja and its reopening is fundamental.

2020 has been a difficult year and 2021 is presenting all the tragic effects of this pandemic. We will keep on supporting all the children involved in the project, reassured by your support and your participation!