Colombia is a veritable paradise for some. Tourists visiting the country are astounded by the country’s beauty, the deftness and speed of it’s progress and the kindness of its people. For decades, however, the country has been embroiled in violent troubles, remnants of a past that gave Colombia a reputation for being a no-go area.
For those affected most profoundly by these troubles, the opportunities for a better life can seem slim. Many are isolated and live in damaged communities, or exiled and left without the few possessions they could once call their own. For children growing up in these areas drugs are easy to come by, and many begin taking them at a young age to escape the boredom and desperation. Many have to work to feed their families and the most vulnerable of these will be forced into the jungle to work.
Fortunately there are people working in these areas to offer some hope. One such person is our friend Jenny from the UK. Jenny has hopes to start a registered charity here in Colombia called ‘Football For the Future’, which will focus on engendering a community spirit among children in the town of Carpugana, as well as educating them and encouraging them to focus on a healthy future for themselves, their families and ultimately their country. She was inspired by the work of a man she met there when she stayed in the area. He works day in, day out with the children in the hope that they’ll see other options for themselves that the dim future that so many in the area have already suffered. It’s his project she is hoping to build upon, and secure a registered status and funding for.
This June, after securing funding from St Andrews University, Jenny will be travelling back to the area with the hopes of personally giving the project equipment such as footballs, as well as basic educational tools such as exercise books. This will alleviate some pressure from the project, which sometimes has to go weeks without a football as they wait for a donation from a local business. Jenny’s efforts will hopefully lead to more secure funding, as well as raised awareness of the efforts of the charity and the condition that these children and young adults live in.
We urge you to check out their Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/FootballForTheFuture and help out in any way you can. Even just a ‘Like’ on their page will help spread the word!
Paul
