Our plan in Colombia

Plan is working at the grassroots level in Colombia to help communities make real and lasting change, so that children have the opportunity to reach their full potential.

Plan has worked in Colombia (population 45 million) in Central America since 1962 and currently has programs in over 190 communities in 40 municipalities which aim to address the following issues affecting children:

• Displaced children as a consequence of armed conflict
• Poor childhood immunisation and health
• Inadequate access to water and sanitation
• Limited access to quality pre-school, primary and secondary education
• Sexual exploitation of children and women
• Youth drug addiction and teenage pregnancy

Plan's programs and strategies to address these issues include:

Displaced children

Children and their families who have been displaced by armed conflict are considered the most vulnerable. Plan provides social and psychological support to help families overcome the trauma of the conflict and helps them to resettle by providing access to education and new sources of family income.

Early childhood

By offering parenting skills to carers of children under five years helps improve a child's health and overall development. Plan also works to improve access to drinking water and basic sanitation services and pre-school opportunities as well as the quality of preschool education programs.

Education

Plan provides opportunities for the most vulnerable children to attend primary school and addresses issues of children mistreated at school and quality of teaching. The program also provides children with opportunities to attend secondary school and informal post-primary education.

Youth participation

In dealing with youth drug addiction, Plan promotes youth participation activities such as peer groups to promote child rights and participate in community development projects. The program is also based at schools providing teenagers with life skills and opportunities to further their education. Plan also works with the health institutions to promote the access to quality sexual and reproductive health services.

Child rights

Plan is working with those responsible for children's and adolescents' rights (families, civil society organisations and local governments) to strengthen their skills and understanding. This can then lead to positive changes in sexual and reproductive health, peaceful coexistence and livelihood.

Social mobilisation

This program puts children's rights on the public agenda thereby bringing Colombian Government legislation closer to international agreements. Plan also promotes solidarity and responsibility through the education of local and foreign audiences, so that they will assume an active role regarding poverty issues. It also discloses the children's situation and facilitates the exchange of experiences between child groups.

Country Facts

Country	Colombia	Australia
Flag
Population	44.9 Million	21 Million
Language	Spanish	English
Capital	Bogota	Canberra
GDP per capita (USD/year)	2,176	$37,300
Life expectancy	72.6	81.5
Access to safe drinking water	93%	100%
Literacy	92.8%	100%
Source:	United Nations: Millennium Development Goals Report 2006