In the last months, the already complex series of risks faced by families and children in Colombia have increased due to the various measures that were implemented to control COVID-19. The shocks experienced have caused levels of tension within families and communities to grow, exposing a larger number of people to poverty and increased psychosocial risks.   These risks for children and youth, mainly, are exacerbated when personal, family, and social conditions converge with each other.

The project targets children, youth, and families in two areas in the northern desert of Colombia, called La Guajira. We aim to reach the Wayuu ethnic group, Venezuelan migrants, and Colombian people facing poverty.  The Wayúu indigenous population constitutes 42% of the population of La Guajira. The Wayúu are the largest ethnic group in Colombia. They do not have constant religious authority; however, shamans serve as intermediaries between the spirits and their community.  According to the report of Migration Colombia (2021), more than 150,000 Venezuelans are present in the target area and thousands more cross the border on their way to other parts of Colombia. Guajira holds the highest rates of poverty in Colombia (62.9% according to UNDP, 2021).  This translates into high levels of hopelessness among youth. Children find themselves at risk of abuse.

According to the national authority of indigenous groups (ONIC),   even though Colombia’s constitutional court  in 2017 sentenced that actions should be implemented to stop the death of children due to hunger and thirst in La Guajira, 5,320 children have died from malnutrition and 16,000 are currently suffering undernourishment. Conviventia has targeted the city of Riohacha and the municipality of Musichi, in Manaure.  The impoverished population living in both areas lack access to public services and potable water. Basic hygiene and sanitation conditions are inadequate. The families earn their livelihoods mainly from informal trades such as weaving, street vending, recycling, and motorcycle-taxiing. Is very common to see children and adolescents (NNA) recycling to bring money to their families. In the targeted areas, structural problems such as family dysfunction (abandonment, economic instability), affect young people. Job insecurity (unemployment, informal employment), lack of educational opportunities, forced recruitment and linkage to illegal armed groups, displacement and threats, are permanently present.  Situations of violence by criminal groups are present almost daily.  Given the economic shortcomings and lack of opportunities, in both of the targeted zones, youth prioritize work over study and very few participate in community processes. In average 57.1% of families are nuclear, while 42,9% are extensive.  A significant percentage of young people (average 60.7%) live in free union (MYRA – ACDI-VOCA, 2021). According to surveys carried out in Riohacha,  48% of the young people living in poverty identify some risk in the community that may affect their development and life plan.