Dulce Tierra Nuevo Sol

Welcome to Dulce Tierra Nuevo Sol, Colombia

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Dulce Tierra Nuevo Sol's Community News

Thanks to the generous support of donors, we’re making great progress toward the well-being of children and their families. These are a few of the areas we focused on in the past year:

Community
Latest Progress

Dulce Tierra Nuevo Sol in Colombia is home to more than 250,000 people, including many who face poverty, violence and family instability. Some of the most vulnerable people in this area include displaced families who migrated to protect loved ones from violence.

Having to leave their homes, land and jobs has caused both financial and family problems as parents struggle to rebuild and provide for their children. Homeless families, who have claimed land, are also vulnerable and tension between the two groups makes it hard for the community to find ways to help improve their living conditions.

In both situations, unemployed or low-income parents have limited means to provide for their families everyday needs. Unemployment, which can often be a result of poor education, directly affects the well-being and safety of children, as many parents must travel to find work. This means children are left alone for long periods of time, vulnerable and without protection.

Unemployment also limits the chances children have to improve their future, as many must abandon their own education to help support themselves and their families. Leaders lack the proper training to effectively organize the community and mobilize them to participate in the decision-making processes that will ultimately affect their future.

Child Protection

437 community members learned about child rights and protection issues to help ensure children's safety and participation
800 children received guidance on their spiritual journey to discover, understand and grow their relationship with God

Education

1 peace club is giving children and youth a safe space to develop new skills and have fun
120 young people are participating in peace clubs, coming together with peers to build a safer community

Emergency

35 people are better equipped to protect themselves from disasters and respond to emergencies

Health

3 health facilities were improved with medical equipment and supplies to better care for children and families
370 parents learned about proper feeding practices and how to keep their children well nourished

*Results reported for projects in this country from October 2017 to September 2018

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Explore Dulce Tierra Nuevo Sol

current conditions

To protect the privacy of children, this map shows only the general area of the community, not the exact location.

The needs in Dulce Tierra Nuevo Sol

Sponsor a child in Colombia

Child Protection
Children and youth in Dulce Tierra live in a high-risk environment that is not only vulnerable to the ongoing threat of violence within the country, but also to community issues that stem from it. Many families suffer from the threat of gangs, armed conflict and illegal trade, and struggle of having to relocate and restart. This disturbance not only affects parents, but also children and youth, who lose a sense of safety, purpose and motivation.

Parents also worry that there aren't enough safe spaces for children to socialize in, nor in which to use their time positively in the community. Many spaces have become central spots for crime and drug use, making children vulnerable to these activities.

Community Leadership
One of the overarching issues that impact all areas of life in Dulce Tierra Nuevo Sol is the lack of local leaders who are empowered to bring change to their own community. Without leaders who can effectively organize local residents, the community struggles to work together to advocate for issues affecting children and families.

Additionally, tension and difficult relationships between groups in the community, combined with discrimination among more vulnerable groups, prevent leaders from involving community members in important decisions that affect families and children.

Education
Another issue the community is keen on overcoming is the quality of and access to education. Many children do not receive the mentoring and encouragement necessary to complete their school work successfully. The quality of education is considered low, and many lack the means or the motivation to study.

Families also lack resources to reinforce studies at home and teachers are left with large class sizes and cannot meet the individual demands of each child. Although the importance of being able to read and write is understood, many children must go out and seek work soon after finishing the most basic of levels of education.

Life cycle of a sponsorship community

Dulce Tierra Nuevo Sol, is in Phase 2

PHASE 2: Evaluate and grow

We monitor progress and make adjustments to meet goals. More community members become involved, lead projects and gain ownership of their success.