Healing Colombia, Bogota, Colombia - Family Care Foundation humanitarian project

Most people know very little about the Colombian province of Choco, which is located on the northern Pacific coast of the country. The population is almost completely of African descent. 80 percent of the population lives in poverty and illiteracy, and unemployment runs at 70 percent. Only in a
couple African countries are the number of displaced people higher than in this part of Colombia.

On our first exploratory trip to the region, we felt a concern to help the many impoverished and homeless that we encountered in their vast array of makeshift shelters. These were the displaced people from the civil strife that has ravaged the Colombian countryside for many years. In all our years in South America, we had never encountered such misery.

In April of 2004, we were able to procure a shipping container containing medical equipment and 26,600 items of brand new cotton clothing of all sizes from a Foundation in Sweden. Thus began our concerted effort to bring in what would be our first container of humanitarian aid for the poor displaced people of Choco.

At about this same time, a church offered to pay for the shipping of the container. As we began to research all that it would entail to bring the container through Colombian Customs, we were warned of many difficulties that we would encounter. (At this stage of the game, we can personally testify that these warnings were nothing compared to reality! Ha!)

Unfortunately, here in Colombia, far too many and charitable entities are not what they project, so this has obliged the government to set up very strict stipulations that basically make it impossible bring in humanitarian aid without paying high taxes & going through a lot of red tape. The port fees are high as well and the required paper work is exhausting! To make matters worse, it is not uncommon to encounter port officials who make the process so difficult that many of the containers sit there for months, paying high storage fees every day for the space they occupy.

The Governor of Choco lent himself to support our project, exempting the container of taxes and putting their representatives into action to help pave the way for the arrival of the container.

On the day we were in town to receive this first container, there was an offshore earthquake measuring 7.2 on the Richter scale just a few miles out to sea that shook up the entire region. If it had happened a few miles inland, experts say there would have been nothing left of this port city. Thus was our maiden voyage christened!

Through this first container experience, we made contact with the local human rights representatives, whose job is to work as a liaison and negotiate with the guerrilla subversives when there are kidnappings. Through their contacts at the port, the container was unloaded and shipped by truck, unloaded in warehouses and then flown by the army to Quibdo, the capital of Choco.

We knew the donation would be exposed to many different people along the way, so we made it clear from the start how important is was to make sure it got to the homeless populations in Choco. Our concern was that the temptation to steal would be stronger than the mission itself, so we spoke about it firmly with all those involved, and everyone responded positively.

At this stage, we then sent more Healing Colombia staff members to Choco to personally oversee the distribution of the goods, together with the Governor’s assistants.

This first container was distributed among 21 different municipalities. People of all ages came to receive their gifts, while the wheel chairs, crutches, and walking aids were sent to old-folks homes and medical centers.

Many obstacles are hindering the progress of this region. Roads have yet to be built in many places, and an aqueduct needs to be constructed. The level of water borne diseases is very high. The province is isolated from the rest of Colombia on account of the rugged terrain & limited routes of access.

With subsequent containers and assistance to the people of Choco, a representative from the Ministry of Justice asked us for help to receive orthopedic limbs and help for the ex guerilla fighters they rehabilitate. Since that time, we have been in touch with a wonderful foundation in the USA who is helping with this need.

We realize that a few containers of clothes and medical equipment aren’t going to change the deeper problems in the Chocoano society. But our token of concern for the people, and the friends consolidated along the way, have permitted us to begin paving the way for more substantial help.

Colombia is the center of a long-standing conflict surrounding drug traffic and terrorist movements. There is a war going on, with the highest kidnapping rate in the world (85% of all kidnappings world-wide!), a violent death every 15 minutes (compare this to the USA, having 3 times the population, and a violent death every 30 minutes), and hundreds of homeless as a result of the war between the guerillas and the paramilitary.

At the end of 2005, Healing Colombia began working with the government, in their psychosocial programs for narco-terrorists who had been demobilized and/or laid down their arms. Currently, there are roughly 40,000 of these folks in Colombia, the largest group of this kind in the world.

Seventy per cent of these ex-guerillas are between 12 and 25 years of age. From the moment these young people demobilize, they are recognized as “new citizens” and required to pass through a series of workshops that help them readjust to society. The program includes classes on citizenship, civil rights and literacy forums, as well as 9 sessions of psychosocial modules.

Healing Colombia is responsible for the Music Therapy forum. As would be expected, many inner wounds trouble these ex-guerrillas, and although it’s not easy, they’ve voluntarily made the decision to disarm, both physically and mentally. Group therapy, music and affection allow them to reveal their true feelings. Once they admit their mistakes, they are given a chance to begin again. As it turns out, many became part of the guerilla movement as children or teens and have been the victims of abuse and tyranny. We see them as simple human beings who certainly deserve another chance.

Healing Colombia also helps to organize the graduation ceremony where the graduates of this two-year program receive a diploma.

Among our programs, Healing Colombia focused on a neighborhood where violence reigned. Two years ago, 14 teenagers in the area were killed in gang wars between the three main gangs. This year, one of the gangs has disappeared. Why? After a year of intense group therapy and personalized attention, the leaders of the gang decided it's not worth it to throw their lives away in this senseless manner! This has caused a chain reaction and impacts the whole community.

The pattern of violence, vengeance and criminal behavior can be changed. We are now carrying out a series of workshops in local schools.

Healing Colombia runs a youth center in the north of Bogotá that offers alternatives: music, informal education, technology, English language, work ethics, and spiritual and psychological support.

To give you an idea of the critical situation surrounding Colombia’s youth in general: 25% of girls between 15 and 18 are pregnant or have children. And in the lower social classes, an estimated 85% of the female population below 20 years of age have been abused.

A UN survey on the psychological conditions of children and youth in countries with this level of violence has shown the desperate need for help to heal their hearts and minds. Some have seen their parents murdered, or have been robbed of the land of their ancestors. Imagine the feelings of vengeance, which could produce a wave of violence over the next 20 years that will far surpass what we are witnessing now.

So where do we center our attention? On the children and youth of Colombia.
Our programs are designed to draw young lives into a new sphere of understanding where they can take on an active role in building a better future not only for themselves, but also for their communities. In a nation at odds within its own borders, many of the victims are children and adolescents, tomorrow's adults who will turn to vengeance if they find no answers to the indiscriminate violence and conflict that directly affect their lives.

We believe the world must look beyond the heart breaking exterior of poverty and neglect, and into the eager faces of Colombia's youth whose hearts are full of love, hope and the will to rise above. They refuse to give in, and continue to believe that the seeming hopelessness of their situation is not impossible to overcome.

Twenty-four youngsters from between 12 to 20 joined hands and sang softly for the audience of 1000 people. The young people all wore matching cowboy bandanas on their heads, as some had no hair and the others wanted everyone to look the same. Silence fell on the crowd. While these kids don’t sing professionally, their sweet faces and calm presence hushed even the most rowdy spectator.

These are kids who are sick with cancer. Some stood on their one good leg, or used their only hand to hold the hand of the person standing beside them. Others limped to the stage and smiled timidly out at the audience.

The Dharma Foundation, with whom we work, is designed to house and care for young people with cancer. When we first came in contact with these young wards of the Dharma Foundation, the teenagers immediately latched on to us during our visits, and made us promise not to abandon them. Since then, we have been visiting them every week, teaching them to sing and giving these ailing young people our time and attention.

At one point, we were asked to help them prepare two songs for the Foundation’s sponsors, so we all learned a couple of beautiful songs by Gloria Stefan that speak of love and forgiveness. On the night of this special dinner, we were amazed to find ourselves in front of some of the most influential business people in Colombia, famous tycoons one never gets to meet face to face.

When the 20 kids sang their song, accompanied by our volunteers, there wasn’t a dry eye in the audience. It was a very moving moment, and everyone felt deeply touched. Why? You can’t come away from those kids without facing your own fears of death and life eternal. They carry such joy and spontaneous affection that despite their illness, the ones who are recovering help the ones who aren’t. Seeing them stand there and sing with their whole hearts put these men, who live fully entrenched in the material world, in touch with the real values of life.

We were only on stage to accompany them with our guitars, piano, percussion and voices. They were the stars. We were only supposed to sing two songs, but the crowd asked for more, so we ended up singing four altogether. Once you see these kids sing, you don’t forget the tranquil happiness that surrounds this very special chorus. Just to see them standing there singing transmits hope.

How can people who face death every day transmit so much? Because whether they soon go on to the next life, or stay here, they are ready. They have peace about whatever comes their way, and this makes one feel ashamed of our smaller problems that so easily distract us from life’s meaning.

By Mario Torres and Sophia Dow, Project Directors (with excerpts of reports from staff members)

On January 24, 2000, some of the Healing Colombia team members were preparing to travel to another city when suddenly the earth began to move. It continued for what seemed to be an eternity! The ground roared, the house shook and creaked, various things broke in the house, and roof tiles started shattering. We’ll never forget the experience.

We soon learned that the earthquake had killed hundreds of people in the neighboring city of Armenia. Thousands were missing and many more were homeless. It was clear that the survivors needed as much help as possible, so we loaded up our two vans and set off.

Entering Armenia

As we entered Armenia, we were shocked at the scene before us. Three-quarters of the city had been destroyed and 90% of its inhabitants were homeless. Over one thousand people had died and many more were injured, some of whom were still trapped under the rubble. An appalling stench hung over parts of the city. Twisted metal, smashed cars, and demolished buildings were everywhere. Sirens wailed. Survivors wandered through the ruins, dazed, confused and distraught.

We started looking for representatives of the Red Cross and other relief organizations in order to volunteer our services. Things were very chaotic. The hospital as well as the main police station had been severely damaged. The main fire station and all its equipment was destroyed. Most of the doctors and rescue workers we met were in near shock themselves. Volunteer relief workers were beginning to arrive from around the world, but they weren’t organized yet. Local survivors and individual volunteers from surrounding towns still bore the brunt of the rescue and relief operation.

We eventually met a local Red Cross worker who needed a vehicle, so we offered him the use of ours. He introduced us to the Red Cross coordinator, who gratefully accepted our offer to help. Our first assignment was to fill our van with relief supplies and distribute them to the most needy areas of the city. We continued doing this until nightfall. At that point we were advised to leave the city as bands of thieves were descending on the town, robbing the poor earthquake survivors of what little they had left.

In the days that followed we based out of the main distribution center near the airport. We were integrated into the administration of the supplies and given responsibilities that included deciding where and when truckloads of supplies should be sent for distribution.

Miquel distributing shoes to the families
who lost their possessions.

Phoebe, 14 years old, distributes milk to
children left without homes.

We also had time to deliver supplies personally. We went from house to house and tent to tent, giving out food and water along with prayers and words of love, faith, and comfort. We also encouraged the relief workers, as well as the soldiers who had been deployed to keep order and protect us. Some people seemed to appreciate the prayers more than anything. Many people thanked us for taking time to show them love and personal concern. They said trucks would sometimes come to their neighborhoods and simply dump the food and other supplies and then leave. This lack of organized distribution meant that the weaker, slower survivors seldom got any of the supplies.

At the time of this writing, some time has passed since the earthquake. The chaos has subsided. Each neighborhood has formed communal centers with communal dining rooms. About 70% of the population are living in "cambuches," huts with plastic sheets for roofs. Some of the communal centers have asked us to counsel and give spiritual orientation to the survivors to help them overcome the trauma that they have experienced. We have initiated group therapy sessions with workshops based on the Bible and other uplifting publications. These people need strength and faith to leave their despair behind and start over, rebuilding their lives.