This post is also available in: Spanish
These photos were taken February 2020, before social distancing measures were put into place in Colombia.
It is a Saturday afternoon and a group of children gather in a community hall located in Palmira for a program run by Fuente de Vida, a Mennonite Brethren church that has been serving this community since 2004. They begin their time with a couple of group activities. The children stand in a circle and listen attentively at the instructions. For this game, a number will be called out, after which they will need to create a group consisting of that number of people.
When a resounding, “Four!” is called out, children and adults alike, squeal and run around the spacious hall pulling themselves into a tight huddle of four. The room echoes with energy and laughter.
After a few rounds of play, the children are asked to help set up their seats for the teaching time. Today, they are learning about the value of family through the Bible story of Joseph.
Also, on this particular day, an MCC Learning Tour of Human Resources staff is visiting the children’s program to see firsthand the MCC-supported church initiative. Stella Morales, a pastor of Fuente de Vida, and Katherin Perenguez, coordinator of the children’s program, (pictured above in the center) share with the delegation about the community context, the purpose and activities of the children’s program, as well as the impact it has made on families.
The project was initiated by Fuente de Vida in March 2018, when members from the church who also live in the community were invited to hear about an idea to reach out to the most vulnerable in Caimitos. This area is a commune 1 sector that is “characterized by domestic violence, micro-trafficking, confrontation between gangs, and a remarkable number of children out of school.”
Aptly named Peacemakers, the children’s program started running in April 2018 with about 40 children from the neighborhood. Currently, there are 30 children, ages 5-14, who regularly attend the program that runs once every two weeks. The children learn about being peacemakers in their home and their community, developing tools for healthy conflict management through play, teaching times, and sharing with each other.
After having the opportunity to observe the activities of the program, the members of the delegation were introduced to the group of children who looked on with curiosity. Suddenly, one of the children stood up and made his way to the end of the line. The young boy began to introduce himself to each person in the line, shaking each one’s hand with enthusiasm. The rest of the children quickly caught on, formed a line and, one by one, also shook hands with the visitors. Although there was a language barrier, the smiles on everyone’s faces were able to communicate the joy everyone was feeling at that moment.
Then laughter erupted when one of the program leaders squatted down as an attempt to disguise himself as one of the children and shuffled down the line along with the children. With a big smile across his face, José Manuel González, one of the program leaders, was clearly entertaining the kids more than attempting to meet the North Americans.
What stood out most for me about this visit was hearing about José Manuel, and his wife, Sandra (pictured above on the left), along with Angi Torres (pictured above on the right). These leaders of the children’s program came to this community from Venezuela as refugees and had the opportunity to participate in the pilot project of a refugee support program started by the church in April 2019.
The refugee initiative provided several families with emergency relief, food, legal support, and on-going accompaniment. The project supported a second cycle of families from Venezuela, one of which was Mary Castro’s, another leader of the children’s program (pictured above). Jose, Sandra, Angi, and Mary wanted to give back to the community, so they began to serve alongside of the church as teachers and mentors to these community children.
Within the past two years, this neighborhood has grown to accept and support the children’s program. Parents and caregivers have entrusted the children to the staff and recognize how they not only care for their children, but also try to accompany their whole family. The children have improved in their academics and personal conduct, developed their self-esteem, and have learned it is better to solve conflicts rather than being silent and how to ask for help if needed. On the side of the community hall where the children’s program runs are the painted words “Por Mi Barrio” – For My Neighborhood – words that ring true in the actions of a committed community of faith, displaced families who found new roots, and kids who are building peace inside and outside of themselves. During this visit, I saw a beautiful example of the kingdom of God, where those seeking hope found it and, in turn, are passing it on and impacting individual lives, households, and a community.
Pandemic Update
During the pandemic, the church continues to carry out the work they have been doing with the children in the community by visiting them at their homes while complying with biosecurity protocols. Members of the church bring materials and activities for the children and their parents to do in their homes, along with a small snack. The families are visited every two weeks. The program leaders also created a WhatsApp group for the children where they can send photos and videos of the activities that were assigned.
Kristin Cato is Exchange Program and Communications Coordinator for Colombia. She lives in Cali with her family.