Colombia continues to be marked by decades of conflict, persistent poverty and massive migration flows from neighbouring Venezuela. Human trafficking and the sexual exploitation of children and adolescents thrive in the shadows, preying on vulnerability and the lack of protection.

The Daughters of Charity are combating this scourge through the ‘Defenders of Life’ network, established in 2009, alongside professionals from various fields (teachers, journalists, psychologists, designers, political scientists, etc.).

Thanks to your generosity towards the ‘The Adventures of a Navigator’ project, 500 Colombian and Venezuelan children and teenagers have learnt to recognise dangers, understand their rights and become heroes and heroines, defenders of their own lives. 
But there is still a long way to go. Every evening, the children who have been trained return to families where the dangers have not gone away: domestic violence, neglect, abuse, begging… 

Courageous but isolated families

Thousands of families living in precarious circumstances are often left without information or support, and sometimes even act without realising that they are putting their children at risk.

“Sending a child out to work to help support the family, leaving them to look after their younger siblings on their own, or adopting authoritarian parenting styles that undermine trust – all of this amounts to entrusting children with responsibilities that belong to adults, and it normalises exploitation.
Parents, overwhelmed by their difficulties, fail to recognise the warning signs. Children, left to their own devices, become easy prey for criminal networks.” Sr. Martha Liliana

Thus, the home – the place that should be the safest – becomes a place of vulnerability. And the children supported through the ‘Adventures of a Navigator’ project remain at risk the moment they step outside their front door. 

“These families are full of courage and resilience. But a lack of training, isolation, and a shortage of resources and psychological support prevent them from fulfilling their role as protectors. They need to learn how to identify risks, re-establish dialogue, boost their self-esteem and work together to build support networks for their children.” Sr. Martha Liliana

The project: Building parents’ capacity to protect their children

Having raised awareness amongst the children, it is now time to educate their families in order to protect them in the long term.

Over a period of ten months, 50 families will benefit from a comprehensive programme.
They will be selected from among those living in communities where the Daughters of Charity are already active, notably through the five partner schools in the ‘Defenders of Life’ (‘Defensores de Vida’) network.

The project comprises:

- monthly workshops led by a team of psychologists, social workers and educationalists; each workshop will focus on a key protective skill: identity, self-esteem, empathy, recognising risks and family communication; parents will learn how to communicate with their children, recognise the signs of danger and respond appropriately

- personalised psychological support for the most vulnerable families, to heal the wounds of the past, restore trust and strengthen family cohesion.

Finally, an educational documentary will chart the entire training process. Based on personal accounts and the transformations experienced by those involved, it will serve as a resource for raising awareness and learning amongst other families and communities in Colombia and Latin America, thereby amplifying the impact of this project.

“With this programme for families, we can take a decisive step forward: to build on the advocacy work carried out with children by empowering families to protect them, so that they become a strong bulwark against all forms of exploitation. Every preventive measure is an opportunity to save a life.” Sr. Martha Liliana

If the project raises more than its goal, any excess funds received will be allocated to a similar project.