The project aims for three hundred Afro-Colombian children divided into twenty two football teams in Choco, Colombia to develop socio-emotional skills and improve their capacities to participate in peace-building processes, towards the prevention of forced recruitment. Sport helps young people connect with their peers and community, gives them a sense of belonging, and helps children develop skills in critical thinking, empathy and managing emotions.

Challenge

According to the latest report of the Special Jurisdiction of Peace in Colombia, in its report "There is future if there is truth" from 1990 to 2017, 16,238 have been recruited by armed groups and from 1990 to 2017, between 27,101 and 40,828 young girls and boys were victims of this type of violence. Choco, has historically been inhabited by Afro-descendant and Indigenous communities, has been particularly affected by the he armed conflict and child recruitment.

Long-Term Impact

We will work with teachers, the headteachers and the board members of the three rural schools, along with the local government.. This is part of a government initiative that encourages ethnic minority communities to design a school programme that combines teaching about their unique rights and customs with regular education. As mentioned above, given the connection between the Afro-Colombian identity and the land, this model will have a strong focus on environment

References

1. http://www.childrenchangecolombia.org
2. https://childrenchangecolombia.org/recruitment-of-children/
3. https://childrenchangecolombia.org/preventing-child-recruitment-in-colombia/

Additional Documentation

https://www.globalgiving.org//pfil/57762/projdoc.pdf

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