Help break the cycle of violence and poverty

During 2025, Las Chicharras—Communications Agency supported adolescents ages 10–16 living in vulnerable neighborhoods of central Medellín, where many young people face daily exposure to violence, poverty, and social exclusion. Through weekly workshops, participants explored storytelling, photography, drawing, audio, video, and digital tools as ways to express their ideas, emotions, and experiences. Equally important, the project created a safe and caring space where young people could build confidence, manage emotions, and develop positive relationships with peers and adults.

Over the course of the year, 108 adolescents participated directly in 137 workshops, supported by a multidisciplinary team providing pedagogical and psychological accompaniment. Participants strengthened key life skills such as empathy, emotional regulation, active listening, critical thinking, and collaboration. Many youth who initially struggled to speak or trust others began to share their perspectives, ask questions about their communities, and work together to create communication pieces that reflected their realities and hopes.

At Pueblo de los Niños, one of our partner organizations, the impact of the program has been especially visible: interest in Las Chicharras has grown to the point that there is now a waiting list of young people who wish to participate. While current resources limit the number of groups we can accompany at one time, this growing demand reflects the value that adolescents and community partners place on having a space where their voices are heard, respected, and nurtured.

Facilitators and partner organizations observed meaningful changes in group dynamics, including greater cooperation, respectful communication, and emerging youth leadership. These shifts extended beyond the workshops into school, family, and community spaces, contributing to healthier relationships and a stronger sense of agency among participants. Thanks to the support of GlobalGiving donors, Las Chicharras continues to help young people break cycles of silence, exclusion, and vulnerability by strengthening their voices and their belief that they can be active agents of change in their lives and communities.