Humanitarian Aid in Colombia - After-School Project
OUR WORK IN COLOMBIA
The Immaculate Conception Parish is located in a well-to-do area of Bogota. Members of the parish decided to adopt as its "Sister Parish" the St. John Neumann Parish, located in a socially and economically depressed part of the city. The purpose of the project is to unite the two communities in an effort to improve the quality of life and promote families.
The St. John Neumann Parish is comprised primarily of rural immigrants who have been displaced by the guerilla war being fought between the government and drug militias. Extreme poverty, unemployment, and informal employment characterize the community. Due to the extreme poverty, both parents leave the home in the early hours of the morning, leaving the eldest child in charge of the younger children. However, as school shifts are split between the morning and afternoon to ensure that as many children can attend as possible, many younger children are left to roam the streets on their own.
The "Sister Parish Project" began as an after-school nutrition program for 45 children. These children were provided a place to stay off the streets during the day, lunch, and a snack in the mid-morning or mid-afternoon, help with their school work, and some recreational activities. Given the number of children at-risk in this community, the Parish decided to expand the project to a total of 100 children.
WHFC provided a grant of US$13,560 to the Sister Parish Project to cover costs for remodeling the kitchen, purchasing furniture, and industrial equipment to make it possible to feed and tutor 100 children. The remodeling is expected to be completed in August 2008.
While the needs of children in Colombia seem endless, with your help we can continue to make a world of difference. Please join us today by visiting our online donation page or contacting Ali Crandall, Humanitarian Aid Manager, at 781.419.0340 or acrandall@whfc.org.