AVSI has been present in Colombia since 1997, implementing initiatives focused on the protection of children and adolescents, education, and the well-being of the most vulnerable people. Its work is carried out in collaboration with institutions, local organisations and other partners, with particular attention to children and adolescents experiencing family and social vulnerability.
Through the Juntos con la Vida project, funded by the Commission for International Adoptions (CAI) of the Italian Presidency of the Council of Ministers, AVSI contributes to strengthening the child protection system in the cities of Bogotá, Villavicencio and Bucaramanga.
Activities include educational and socio-educational programmes, psychological and psychosocial support, health and nutrition promotion, and initiatives aimed at fostering the emotional and relational development of children and adolescents. The initiative is part of a broader binational programme between Colombia and Mexico, established to strengthen child protection systems and improve the quality of care provided to children and adolescents experiencing vulnerability. The project is implemented in collaboration with Fundación Monserrate, La Maloca and SRAI – the Regional Service for International Adoptions of the Piedmont Region.
One component of the project focuses on strengthening the skills of professionals and organisations working to protect children, through training and guidance on child protection, trauma-informed care and reception. Work with institutions also contributes to improving family reintegration and adoption pathways, in accordance with the best interests of the child.
AVSI also promotes educational and inclusion opportunities through school activities, artistic and creative workshops, sports, music and social-emotional education, with a particular focus on children living in highly vulnerable contexts.
In Bogotá, in the San Ricardo de Pampuri neighbourhood, through the Distance Support Programme, AVSI accompanies girls and boys throughout their educational journey and strengthens the role of families and the community in their development.
In the country, AVSI pays particular attention to the emotional well-being of children and the professionals who accompany them, developing trauma-informed approaches and methodologies aimed at strengthening resilience, including in response to emergencies such as the recent earthquake that struck Colombia.
