Prevent Sexual and Gender Violence in Colombia

Dear friends,

From all of us here at Children Change Colombia, we want to thank you for your decision to support us in carrying out this important project for children in Colombia. Your generous support is helping keep at risk-children safe from the dangers in their communities, and allowing them to develop important life skills and strengthen their capacities to build positive futures for themselves. We believe that equipped with the right skills and knowledge, children can transform their own lives, their communities and Colombia itself.

This year Children Change Colombia was able to direct your donations to fund the project: “Reducing conflict-related sexual violence and commercial sexual exploitation against children and young people”. Thanks to your generous contribution, our project partners CDE and ACJ were able to successfully implement this project in 2022.

Beneficiaries:

It is important to emphasize that, in Quibdó, 87.5% of the participating people (CYP, carers, teachers and officials) are women, reflecting a reality regarding gender roles and the attribution of care tasks that have historically been granted to women. In addition to this, it is important to recognize that, in territories impacted by the armed conflict, the effects on gender are differentiated and accentuate patriarchal dynamics. On the other hand, thanks to the good recognition and validation of the project by the families both in Cartagena and Quibdó, plus the artistic and social training process carried out by the participants, the overall participation of CYP in the project has increased.

Children and young people: Although the estimated number of children and young people, both direct and indirect, who’d benefit from the project within the approach of the initial proposal was 448, the actual number of CYP that have benefited from it during this period is 1,141. This represents an increment of the 39% of CYP who have benefited, including both direct and indirect beneficiaries.

From this total amount, 398 children were direct beneficiaries in Bogotá (ACJ): 225 came from educational entities (102 male, 121 female and 2 self-identified as 0*), and 143 from local communities (64 male and 79 female), and 30 children leaders (12 male, 17 female), and 1 O* see footnote.

In the case of Cartagena and Quibdó (CDE) 64 CYP were direct beneficiaries of the project: 53 children (17 masculine, 36 female) and 11 young leaders (6 male and 5 female)

Parents and Carers: In Quibdó, the group of carers increased significantly during this period. Likewise, psychosocial professionals and managers carry out training related to risk prevention. In Cartagena, the project includes caregivers or guardians on a permanent basis, and they have acquired the necessary skills to identify, recognize and prevent all kinds of situations where the Human Rights of CYP are affected. In this sense, the project also includes a psychosocial team that helps and guides the role of caregivers (mothers, fathers, grandparents, siblings or any other care figure) by recognizing the role that corresponds to them in relation to intervention in crisis situations in childhood and violations of Human Rights.

In the case of Bogotá, during the project development, the families and carers carried out different initiatives, specifically in economic activity businesses focused on food products for sale (fast foods and desserts). In the same way, they proposed different topics, actions or campaigns according to children's needs.

Achievements and Outcomes:

- 83% of children and young people were trained in self-care and self-protection practices and tools; they know now how to act when facing risks in their communities and build their knowledge about human rights (including children's rights).

At least 95% of families and caregivers participated and contributed to the reduction of gender-based violence, sexual violence and CSEC and acquireD knowledge about human rights (including children's rights) in their communities.

At least 92% of community members (public officials, teachers, community leaders, and youth leaders) participated in advocacy activities to demand the protection of children's rights from the responsible public institutions.

At least 63% of young people and family members at risk of CSEC, from the localities of Martires and Santa Fe in Bogotá, strengthened their life plans contributing to the prevention of commercial sexual exploitation of children.

Activities:

Training modules in school settings:

17 face-to-face sessions on different subjects in Schools, where 168 CYP attended:

• Human, Sexual and Reproductive Rights.
• Building Citizenship
• Gender division of labor
• Relational anarchy of gender and its relationship with capitalism (Feminisms and masculinities)
• Protection against contextual risks (Healthy coexistence, Prevention of SPA consumption).
• Mental health.

II Carnival for the Rights of Children:

Strategy to make visible the CYP population that inhabits the Mártires and Santa Fe districts, enabling the effective exercise of their rights and the appropriation of public space. Four sessions were held and 282 CYP attended.

Narrative and storytelling sessions:

17 sessions with 168 participants were carried out to promote and develop the oral and written production of the students. The sessions aimed to promote critical, analytical, argumentative and reflective processes in the construction of personal narratives that tell stories of their daily lives.

Learning didactics to teach parenting guidelines:

Two didactic sessions were carried out for ten carers. These activities are designed to pass knowledge from carer to carer. On this occasion,25 caregivers would acquire parenting skills, addressing topics like bullying and family orientation (parenting guidelines).

Dynamic session "take your place":

Playful teamwork activities were carried out with parents and/or carers to address problematic situations reflecting on the conflict resolution capacity of each family member. The development of the session allowed the participants to reflect on family cohesion and the importance of strengthening affective ties to overcome difficulties that arise.

Raising awareness sessions:

Awareness of the importance of the proper exercise of Human Rights has been achieved in favor of the personal development of the students and attention to any risky situation that may arise. Additionally, the activities are scheduled at times that do not affect the work and academic activities of the teachers.

Social cartography activity "Transforming realities":

In April, CYPdeveloped a social cartography activity and identified the greatest risk in their territory. Taking into account International Children's Day, an initiative was proposed for the transformation of the territory, aimed to guarantee children's rights. Also,a preventive campaign for non-violence against children was carried out. There was the participation of 112 social and institutional actors.

"I know my skills" workshops and training:

During this period, the session for the identification of one's own skills was developed, assuming the SWOT matrix* (see footnote) as a reference, emphasizing the strengths and weaknesses of each of the participants. The activity had the aim of identifying and guiding them regarding their ability to make decisions. Each one of the members of the group wrote the strengths and weaknesses that they considered themselves to have, as well as the strengths and weaknesses that they identify in their environment.The participants found that their peers consider each one has strengths that they themselves did not think they possessed. As a result, it was gratifying to see that many times the participants are not able to recognize their abilities that others can see in them and internalize these abilities.

We're very grateful of all the donations that have been directed to this project. Your support will be helping the lives of countless children in Colombia, and for that, we cannot thank you enough.