COLOMBIA: Local youth and migrants can find path out of poverty
John Bosco the Worker Center provides education, support
COLOMBIA
(MissionNewswire) John Bosco the Worker Center in Ciudad Bolívar, Colombia, offers educational opportunities and a safe haven for local youth in a region impacted by violence and poverty. Established in 1994, the center is today recognized as a leader in technical training and known for teaching the circus arts.
Ciudad Bolívar is one of the most disadvantaged and dangerous areas south of Bogotá. The informal settlements house nearly 900,000 people, and 18% of families are not able to meet their primary needs of food, services, housing and education. Migrants from Venezuela coming to the area have built precarious homes made of plastic, boards, metal and recycled materials. They often face violence and abuse.
A Salesian explained, “The community continues to expand on the slopes of the mountains and is made up principally of youth and mothers with limited resources. Lately, the area has also seen in the influx of thousands of migrants arriving from Venezuela in search of opportunities for a better life. To all of them, the John Bosco the Worker Center offers a way to escape poverty through education and to escape violence through specific courses in values and material aid.”
The center offers 13 technical training programs, cooking classes, sports and artistic activities. Young migrants are also welcomed through the Reception House for Venezuelan Youth. The center aids families as well, including 120 adults and 40 young mothers. On Saturdays, recreational activities are organized in the streets.
The work of Salesian missionaries in Colombia is internationally recognized. Just over 34% of Colombians are living below the poverty line. Although Colombia is among the world’s emerging economies, more than three out of 10 Colombians still live in poor conditions. Colombia is also the world’s seventh most inequitable country.
One in five children in the country has no access to education. Many orphaned youth live in poverty and have lost their parents to natural disasters, the HIV/AIDS epidemic and other diseases, war, or domestic issues. Some children remain living with a single parent, struggling to survive, and are often pulled out of school to earn income for the remaining family. Other youth live in shelters or on the streets.
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Sources:
ANS Photo (usage permissions and guidelines must be requested from ANS)
Salesian Missions – Colombia
World Bank – Colombia
