Serving vulnerable and remote communities

SUMMARY OF VITAL PROGRAM ACTIVITIES – First Quarter of 2025
By Sergio Muñoz – Legal Representative

We are pleased to present a summary of our activities and achievements during the first three months of 2025. These reflect the collaborative efforts of our committed field staff, administrative team, and invaluable community of donors—especially with the continued support of GlobalGiving.

Although recent changes have affected our financial resources, we remain deeply committed to steady, sustainable growth. It is encouraging to witness our donors re-engaging with renewed enthusiasm, reaffirming their connection to our mission.

Operating in a conflict-affected region of southern Colombia brings both significant challenges and deep rewards. Our return to this area—prompted by community requests despite ongoing threats from organized crime—reaffirms the essential nature of our work. Through the VITAL program, we continue to positively transform the lives of children and youth. Our educational and sports initiatives empower them with a new outlook, equipping them with resilience and hope, and contributing to broader social change in the community.

EDUCATION

In 2025, the Life Project educational program is reaching 2,250 students from grades 6 to 11 in five schools: Alvernia, Industrial, Santa Teresa, San Fernando, and El Poblado. The program has sparked enthusiasm among the youth, who are increasingly motivated to set personal goals. Students appreciate the program’s interactive format, which enables meaningful discussions around ethics and moral values, avoiding the monotony of traditional instruction.

Feedback from school directors and teachers has been overwhelmingly positive, citing significant academic improvement—especially among students who progressed to university and achieved higher scores on national ICFES exams. Parents and school leaders have expressed heartfelt appreciation for both the content and the methodology. In a region affected by drug trafficking and violence, the program has helped re-center youth around ethical values and purpose for their lives.

For the remainder of 2025, the program continues under a new title: "Desarrollando mi Carácter" (Developing My Character), with a renewed focus on personal development and ethical leadership.

In addition, we are conducting School Parents Workshops throughout the year. Parents are actively engaging and frequently request one-on-one counseling sessions for support with family and child-related challenges.

SCHOOL REINFORCEMENT

We resumed weekly educational reinforcement classes in Mathematical Logic, English, Reading Comprehension, and Moral Values for 50 children and youth from Puerto Asís and 18 surrounding villages in the La Cabaña Corridor. Parents have expressed deep gratitude, emphasizing the program’s importance in supplementing the under-resourced rural education system.

Our sports activities remain an essential motivational tool, helping children stay engaged, focus on their goals, and avoid falling into negative social dynamics.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP INITIATIVE

Our weekly handicraft classes engage 20 children and youth, led by instructors who are former VITAL program beneficiaries (since 2009). Now adults, these instructors run a small business selling the same crafts they now teach. Their story is a powerful example of the long-term impact of our work—illustrating how early investment in youth can come full circle to benefit the next generation. We hope their example will inspire many more young people in Putumayo to embrace entrepreneurship and sustainable livelihoods.

SOCCER PROGRAM UPDATE

The FC VITAL training school and club currently supports around 170 children and youth in Puerto Asís and the village of La Cabaña. Since August, demand has grown—especially from the indigenous community and families—urging us to expand and maintain the program.

In early 2025, our sub-12 team proudly achieved second place in a departmental tournament. We are now preparing to host the upcoming Copa VITAL soccer tournament, which will involve schools from Puerto Asís and nearby areas. Our teams also continue to participate in local championships.

The soccer program remains a cornerstone of our educational strategy, using sport as a powerful motivator to reinforce discipline, values, and engagement with academic life. We aim to nurture children into happy, responsible adults with the capacity to contribute meaningfully to society. Ensuring the safety of our team remains a top priority as we operate in this conflict-affected region.

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

In early 2025, we conducted educational workshops on environmental sustainability for children and youth in the Colombian Amazon. These sessions promoted awareness of the local ecosystem and introduced Amazonian fruits unfamiliar to many participants. Despite their initial unfamiliarity, these fruits have important ecological and nutritional value.

We are committed to expanding this initiative throughout the year, aiming to instill a sense of environmental stewardship in young people. Our goal is to encourage the pursuit of environmentally sustainable livelihoods as an alternative to coca cultivation.

Gratitude

We are sincerely grateful to everyone who has supported the VITAL program’s continued success. Special thanks to GlobalGiving for making it possible to carry out our campaigns and programs. As we move through 2025, we are filled with hope and determination to continue making a lasting difference in the lives of hundreds of children and youth in southern Colombia.

Thank you!

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