Project of Nutrition in favour of children victims of violence in Medellín (2004)

Place of the project: Medellín (Colombia), Bello Oriente

Beneficiaries: 238 children of displaced families

Local partner: Corporacion Ecosofica Nueva Alianza

Budget: 1.445 Euro

Year: 2004

In 2004, Maison des Enfants du Monde decided to support this project which objective was to provide balanced feeding to 238 children of the displaced families moved by violence in the district of Bello Oriente in Medellín. These children suffer from food deficiencies or malnutrition caused by infra-human living conditions. In fact, many Colombian families are forced to leave their villages because of the violence they have to undergo by the various armed groups. These families pack into the district of Bello Oriente in Medellín where they try to survive. 80% of displaced persons are women and children. The children seldom go to school, don’t have the access to any medical care and are forced to work or even prostitute themselves to provide for the needs for their families.

The project had three components that work together to increase the overall wellbeing of the children: nutritional, educational and family and community awareness.

The project is divided into 3 components:

Nutritional program:
The children will receive a breakfast and a complete and balanced meal from Monday to Friday in order to decrease the number of children suffering of malnutrition.

Educational program:
Organize recreational and educational activities to support the integral development of the children. Organize classes to help the children who stop their education because of the displacements, to return to school.

Family and community awareness:
Organize workshops with the families of the children in order to promote the importance of education to the parents and to help these "at risk" children to bloom.

Therefore, the project claims to improve the living conditions of these "at risk" children and prevent them falling into prostitution, drug or delinquency.