Love, food, education for 100 children in Bogota

 Dear friends

Once again, we extend our gratitude and the joy of having you, to continue walking from the hope to the side of the children and their families.

What does this short report contain? This report reflects the work that we have carried out with 70 boys and girls for two months, and in late 2019 and early 2020, they celebrated the festivities together with their families and recharged batteries to continue this journey. We reiterate the impact achieved in the affective, nutritional and educational fields with them.

What have we done?

In affection. The bonds of trust and solidarity with Colombian and Venezuelan children continue to be strengthened, and also with their families; who after the holiday season express their joy at returning to the foundation. There have been 15 visits where the protagonists are women, mothers and grandmothers, caregivers of the children, with whom an approach is made, inviting to undertake a process of recognition and healing of painful victims who have lived and who, in general cases transferthem to the smallest, creating a vicious circle of guilt, victimization and pain.

Nutritionally. Thanks to your contribution, healthy snacks and lunches were provided to the children, prepared by the youth of the Cooking School. In total, about 900 snacks and 30 lunches were distributed. The young people have planned the development of two cooking workshops for the children, which will allow them to live a magical and amazing space,around the preparation of rich and nutritious recipes. It has also been considered to develop a strategy called "traveling basket", where children in a dynamic and playful way, learn about the nutritional benefits of the foods they eat.

In the educational. About 70 Colombian boys and girls and Venezuelan migrants have been linked to 7 initiatives, which are accompanied by 5 children's pedagogues. During the two months, about 60 face-to-face meetings have been held. Work tools and everyday learning continue to be multiple and diverse. The spaces are convened around play, plastic expressions, literature, exploration of the environment and urban agriculture, inviting children to relate from affection, dialogue, collaboration and respect. It is insisted on the accompaniment to the connection and permanence in the school, looking for that all the children are in school.

Children's voices 

“For the children and youth who are arriving from Venezuela, are these participation spaces also guaranteed? Because they are also being citizens, that is, they live here, they inhabit this city ”Children. (11 years oldEspiral de Papel

 "I like that different things always happen and we can share what we know how to do or think, it is like feeling that we all have a space, that no one is left out"Children (14 years old)Iniciativas Inquietos

Dear friend:

First of all we want to thank you for deciding to make a contribution to our project. Your confidence encourages us to continue our work with much love, commitment and hope.

What does this brief report contain? This report shows the achievements in the emotional, nutritional and educational field with 100 children, thanks to your contribution over 3 months.

You will find figures, impacts and brief testimonies of people who have participated in the processes.

What have we done?

1. In affection Having a team of 5 people who are professionals in education and psychology we have selected the 18 most important cases of children who are going through special situations of violence and abandonment in their homes; Around 30 families have been visited, managing to accompany 11 of them in processes of forgiveness and reconciliation. There have been 2 workshops with parents of these children to strengthen ties of affection and help improve relationships at home. More than 80% of the adults who have participated express gratitude for the programs we offer to the children in the foundation. The methodological strategies used have been assertive listening, peer dialogue, playfulness, art, dance and theater.

In the first workshop, the families stated that the foundation is:

“A family that lives fraternity, happiness, union, companionship and peace. A family that manages learning; The foundation generates links that extend life expectancy and leads us to develop a teamwork between the PT Foundation and families for the development of children and adolescents. ” (September workshop with moms, dads and families).

2. In the nutritional. Thanks to your contribution we have managed to feed 100 children with healthy snacks and lunches during the three months, having delivered a total of 2,160 snacks and 200 lunches. We also monitored the size and weight of these children, noting an improvement in at least 35% of the total children.

In the preparation of food, there were three students from the Cooking School, who design the menu, make purchases and prepare snacks and lunches. There was also the active participation of the children themselves in the production of juices or table service. This makes them develop the ability to appropriate their processes and live with greater affection and unity the moment of sharing the food.

3. In the educational. 100 boys and girls were linked to 6 initiatives that were guided by 5 professionals in children's pedagogy. During these 3 months, 96 meetings were held where various topics were discussed around school strengthening, knowledge of rights, caring for oneself, the other and the environment, training in values and the development of some manual techniques . The methodological tools used during the workshops were multiple, among others literature, art, paper filigree, urban agriculture, cineforos, exploration with chemical experiments, dance and theater were used.

These meetings allowed children to make good use of their free time, generate a permanent learning process and enhance their abilities and skills.

We share two testimonials from girls who participate in the programs you have supported:

"Returning to this place always fills me with joy. I hope this year to continue learning from my creative and human abilities from the filigree, also about my rights as a child and craftswoman ”

Sara ( 12 years old)
Member of initiative: "Espiral de papel" (The Paper Spiral)

"I like being in the garden space, because of the relationships I knit with my other colleagues, because it connects me with nature, it makes me freer, it makes me feel at home and that makes me happy."

María José (9 years old)

Member of initiative "Huerta del Eden" (The Garden of Eden)

In the case of the cooking school, between June and December, 30 young people were studied, including 18 women who are heads of household or mothers of some children who are in the foundation. With your contribution we managed to buy supplies for practical classes, pay the fees of some teachers in specific classes such as table and bar and these young women will receive their certification in January 2020 improving their chances of finding better job opportunities in this trade.

Young people also thank with their own words:

“Studying cooking has been a dream come true. First because I like it and that makes me happy. But the most important thing: I will be able to look for a job with a fairer payment because I will have the certificate and this will allow me to give a better life to my children ”

Astrid Elena (28 years old)

Cooking student at the PT Foundation.

Once again: sincere thanks for your contribution!!!

We will give continuity to these processes in which you have been a key protagonist.

We wish you much joy, peace and success in your projects in the new year 2020.

We will continue to share with you the progress and achievements of our programs that make girls, boys and young people happier in the south of Bogotá.

Links:

• A Christmas greeting with all the love of children and young FPT