Serving vulnerable and remote communities

SUMMARY OF VITAL PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN 2024
By Sergio Muñoz - Legal Representative

We are pleased to present a summary of our activities and achievements in 2024, which reflect the collaborative efforts of our dedicated field staff, administrative personnel, and our invaluable community of donors, supported significantly by GlobalGiving. Despite recent changes that have impacted our income, our commitment to steady and sustainable growth remains unwavering, and we are encouraged to see our donors re-engaging and strengthening their connections with us.

Operating in a conflict-affected region of southern Colombia presents both challenges and rewards. Notably, our return to the area, following the previous year's request from local farmers and community members to continue our work despite threats from organized crime, underscores the importance of our mission. We are proud to witness the transformative impact of the VITAL program on the lives of numerous children and young beneficiaries. Through our educational and sports initiatives, we are providing opportunities that foster a significant change in their attitudes and outlook on life, empowering them to confront their circumstances with newfound resilience. This, in turn, is catalyzing positive social change within the community.

EDUCATION

The "Life Project" educational program, designed for students in grades 6 to 11, has successfully reached 4,250 children and adolescents across the schools of Ciudad de Asís, Alvernia, Industrial, Santa Teresa, and San Fernando. This initiative has generated significant enthusiasm among the youth, who are increasingly motivated to establish personal goals and objectives. Participants have expressed appreciation for the program's interactive methods, which foster engaging discussions about ethics and moral values, thereby avoiding the ennui often associated with traditional pedagogical approaches.

Feedback from school directors and teachers has been overwhelmingly positive, highlighting notable improvements among students, particularly those who have progressed to university and achieved higher scores in the ICFES national examinations. Additionally, parents, school principals, and academic coordinators have conveyed their profound gratitude for both the content and methodology of the program implemented within the VITAL framework. The program has effectively inspired students to prioritize moral values, which is particularly vital in this conflict-affected region impacted by drug trafficking and armed groups.

Looking ahead, we plan to continue this impactful initiative in 2025 under the new title "Desarrollando mi Carácter" (Developing my Character), further reinforcing our commitment to fostering character development and ethical leadership among the youth.

SCHOOL REINFORCEMENT

In the realm of educational reinforcement, we have initiated weekly classes in mathematical logic, English, reading comprehension, and moral values for 60 children and young people from Puerto Asis and 18 villages within the "La Cabaña – Corridor," resuming our efforts in August. Parents have expressed profound gratitude for VITAL's school reinforcement program, acknowledging its significant impact on their children's lives. Given the precarious state of education in rural schools, these supplementary classes are invaluable. Furthermore, our sports training initiatives serve as a motivational tool, effectively engaging students and diverting them from the social challenges that pervade their environment.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP INITIATIVE

The handicraft classes have garnered the participation of 20 children and young individuals on a weekly basis. The instructors, who have been beneficiaries of the VITAL program since 2009, were once teenagers themselves. Now, as adults, they have committed to giving back the knowledge and skills they acquired during their formative years at VITAL for the benefit of the children and youth of Putumayo. Currently, they operate a small enterprise that markets the handicrafts they teach the children to create. It is our hope that the example set by this enterprising young couple will inspire many more children and youth in Putumayo to pursue entrepreneurship.

SOCCER PROGRAM UPDATE

Our soccer program, facilitated through the FC VITAL formation school and club, successfully engaged approximately 130 children and young individuals in Puerto Asis and the surrounding village of La Cabaña. Since August, there has been a compelling demand from the community and parents to continue the activities of FC VITAL. As a result, we remain committed to serving this same number of participants while witnessing an increase in interest from neighboring communities.

Ensuring the safety of our team is paramount for the sustained success of the VITAL program, particularly in this conflict-prone region. In November 2024, we will proudly host our inaugural soccer tournament, the ‘Copa VITAL,’ featuring schools from Puerto Asis and adjacent communities. Furthermore, we actively participate in various local championships as we work to fortify our teams, addressing the challenges posed by recent changes that have impacted team structures.

We leverage sports as a powerful motivational tool to foster discipline and encourage engagement in our educational initiatives, which encompass both academic instruction and values-based training. This approach aligns with our overarching mission to nurture these children and young individuals into happy, responsible adults who can make meaningful contributions to society.

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

In 2024, educational workshops were organized to enhance awareness of environmental sustainability among children and youth in the Colombian Amazon. These workshops aimed to cultivate an appreciation for the local ecosystem and introduced participants to a variety of Amazonian fruits. Despite the participants' initial unfamiliarity with these resources, their significance is recognized internationally. Acknowledging the necessity for ongoing education, the VITAL program is poised to expand further in 2025, with a dedicated focus on environmental sustainability. The objective is to inspire the younger generation to value and protect their region while fostering a mindset that seeks alternative, environmentally friendly sources of income beyond coca cultivation.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all individuals whose generous contributions have ensured the continued success of the VITAL program in 2024. Our sincere appreciation also goes to GlobalGiving for their invaluable support during our campaigns. As we embark on the journey into 2025, we do so with great enthusiasm and hope, looking forward to the continuation of our collaborative efforts to positively impact the lives of hundreds of children and youth in this region of Colombia, which is in such urgent need of support.

Thank you!