Our country, which has produced internationally recognized talents, which is well known for the intelligence and astuteness of its people, and which is one of the richest countries in biodiversity and natural resources, is paradoxically one of the most violent in the world.  It has one of the highest poverty rates in South America and its society is one of the most unequal and unjust.  Today, in Colombia there are problems and consequences closely related to the displacement of large human groups and to the forced involvement of children in the internal armed conflict:

Over half of displaced persons are minors who face health, labor and educational problems.  In addition, they face the fear of being identified as displaced persons and of being persecuted in their new home.  In many cases, these children are physically mutilated by land mines planted by the armed groups in conflict, in more than 105 localities.

Thousands of children under 15 are part of illegal armed groups, due to the pressure of these groups, or due to the lack of other possibilities in their environment, which does not make education accessible to them.  Other reasons are mistreatment at home which motivates them to leave, abandonment, or the need to look for opportunities of earning their livelihood.  These are children who, when they leave these armed groups, bring with them experiences which will mark them for life:  many of them have killed at least once; they have witnessed others being killed; they have kidnapped someone or seen someone being kidnapped; they have been witnesses to torture; they have fired against others or they have been wounded in combat.

In this scenario, thousands of intelligent and gifted children face the uncertainty of a dim future and the reality of a present which does not offer them minimal conditions for growth and development, and which, on the contrary, surrounds them with conditions which will probably lead them to fail as individuals and as members of society:  violence in its many forms, fear and the denial of their rights.  Rather than looking at these children as present and future problems, we need to make it possible for them to become part of the solution, and in order to achieve that we need to give them the opportunity to develop their full potential as individuals.

We cannot wait until the National Government solves our problems.  These problems are not only the Government´s problems, these are our problems.  Fortunately there is something we can do, because there are Colombians who enjoy a good economic situation and who are ready to help in some way, if they find the means of doing so.

To this effect, CINDE proposes several programs which can be very productive because they show ways of improving family and community conditions:

• Family and community centers and support networks for fathers, mothers and children in marginal areas of Colombia.

• Children and youth peace builders.

These programs are directed to children an families of the poorest sectors, organized in  working groups of up to 20 or 25, located in CINDE or in other places and institutions.

These programs will consist of activities of non formal education which will help to enhance the positive results of formal education and to the adequate use of children´s free time.  Through them parents and other adults will be able to contribute to the development of their abilities to stimulate children´s development, thus generating a new consciousness around our most precious treasure:  children.  Children will be able to strengthen their logical and creative abilities, to intenalize positive values and to learn another language.

To develop these programs CINDE will contribute the knowledge, experience and materials developed during 25 years of work, particularly in such programs as “Play and Think”, “Child to child” and “Program for parents of young children”.  The programs will receive financial support from companies, private groups, professionals and in general, all those persons and groups who will be interested in giving their support.

Additionally, the program will make it possible for high school and college students to participate in different ways as volunteers to its enrichment.

This idea opens up a new and unique opportunity for Colombians to contribute in some way to a better future for the younger generations.

You can contribute in several ways:

• You can make a one-time donation for these programs, to be used in any of them or in one of them in particular.

• You can make a yearly donation for as long as you determine.

• You can make a monthly donation.

• You can be a volunteer in a particular program or in the institution.

• You can colunteer to  contact other persons who will be willing to help.

• You can  contribute as volunteer in clerical work in CINDE.

The point is you don´t have to be wealthy in order to help.

You can make a difference in helping Colombian children.  Let this program be OUR PROGRAM, not just CINDE´s program. Join us!

• A description of a parent child center

• Research and development lead up to the formation of the Child Centers

• The credibility of CINDE

• The organization of the project

¡ IT´S THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING FOR COLOMBIA... YOU CAN HELP !