UNICEF: Education provides hope for Colombia's children

http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/colombia_52176.html

BOGOTA, Colombia, 16 December 2009 For over 40 years, Colombia has been a nation not only in the throes of conflict, but one consistently hit by natural disasters.

In the northern city of Medellín, a strong partnership has been formed around the 'Esculea Busca al Niño(a)' (EBN) ('School Going to the Child') Initiative. Clara Serna has been involved with EBN since its inception and manages the program.

"We go to the neighborhoods, we find children that are not in school and we evaluate them. Then we start to talk to the family to find out why they are not in school and then when we find out why, then we start to resolve the problem their own specific problems," she said.

Across Columbia, people, parents, teachers, government and non-governmental organizations have consistently seen education as a long-term approach to mitigating violence and better preparing for natural disasters.

Tangible solutions that can help heal and restore the country are deeply dependent upon an educated and strong generation of young people. These partnerships and programmes are providing a lifeline to Colombia's children, the lifeline of education.

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Tags:

• UNICEF
• Colombia
• Bogota
• Medellin
• education
• schools
• children
• Esculea
• Busca
• Niño
• Niña
• EBN