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Humanitarian Aid

Patricia de Francisco
is responsible for the
Humanitarian Aid Chapter of TRTF.

COLOMBIA

Since 2006 the Humanitarian Aid Chapter supports Fundación Corazones Solidarios, a small foundation dedicated to helping small children of very poor families.

It focuses on child development and tries to promote and impart health values and proper eating attitudes as well as a sense of community, and to prepare children for school. The foundation offers not only a safe care center for children but also includes advice, help, and training for the parents, particularly the mothers who usually bear much of the burden of everyday life. The volunteers working for the foundation involve them and give lectures on nutrition, hygiene, problem solving, etc.

The children would normally spend the day alone at "home", but most do not even have a home. Some are children of Bogota's "recyclers", people who go through the garbage collecting things that they can later sell for recycling. So the children just tag along their parents and help them out.

The foundation "Corazones Solidarios" offers these children three essentials: nourishment (two good meals a day), education (basic pre-school skills), and lots of tender love. The idea is that these three elements will provide the means to break the cycle of poverty.

No short-term help, but long-term commitment.

The foundation has operated for eight years with very good results. It started on a small scale: in a rented house and helping about six children and their families. At present, 35 children are being taken care of and, in part with the support of TRTF, the foundation has been able to buy the house where it is located now.

The impact and outcome of the activities is monitored closely, the results discussed and the work constantly adjusted and improved.

From 2003 until 2005 the Humanitarian Aid Chapter supported Fundación Funstall, a Colombian foundation dedicated to helping children suffering from leukemia and other diseases.

In 2004 TRTF donated a 7-seater car for the transportation of these children. This facilitated their transfer from their hostel run by Fundación Funstall in the outskirts of Bogotá to their school and the National Cancer Institute where they receive treatment.