At the end of February, the Projects Department traveled to BogotĂĄ to work on consolidating the project "Empowering Women Heads of Household in Ciudadela Sucre," one of the most impoverished informal neighborhoods on the outskirts of BogotĂĄ.
This project is carried out in collaboration with the San Benito Menni Center, a social center with a strong presence in the area, which develops initiatives aimed at benefiting families in Ciudadela Sucre, addressing various issues that may affect its members (from childhood to adulthood and the elderly), with activities and workshops for school support, a soup kitchen, training courses for adults, mostly women, programs for seniors, etc.
The center closely and comprehensively monitors the progress of the entire family structure, with home visits from some neighbors, trained at the center's initiative as community health workers, thus integrating a small community health effort.
The JCONGD project supports these initiatives with women's empowerment as its primary objective. The project's driving team within the center is comprised of the director, the social work coordinator, two administrative assistants, and three technical staff responsible for monitoring and providing psychosocial and educational support to children.
The project also has the collaboration of FAMIG, a foundation that supports migrants and offers training workshops for the women at the center.
During the trip, all planned objectives were achieved: consolidating and establishing the steps to be followed in the project's implementation, strengthening the communication network between JCONGD and the center, and seeking new opportunities and strategies to continue progressing and supporting the development of vulnerable populations.
A great strength of this project is the high level of commitment and involvement of the participating women and their families, the team at the San Benito Menni Center, and the Hospitaller Order of Saint John of God.
The opportunity was also taken to visit the Manizales Psychiatric Clinic. Significant work is being done there to provide social support and develop skills for the reintegration of highly vulnerable individuals with mental illness into society through the "San Juan Closet" Project. Also noteworthy is the care provided to children and young people, many of whom suffer from addiction problems, to ensure their full recovery and social reintegration, giving them the opportunity for a future.
It has been a very productive and enriching journey, and we hope to soon reap positive impact results from all the projects.
Text and photos: JCONGD Projects Department
