Colombia

Colombia is bordered by Panama, Venezuela, Peru, Ecuador and Brazil. It is a country of significant natural resources with substantial oil reserves.

It has a diverse culture reflecting the indigenous, Spanish and African origins of its people. It has a highly stratified society where the traditionally rich families, usually of Spanish descent, have benefited from the country’s wealth to a far greater degree than the overwhelming majority of the population.

Colombia has become a byword for drug cartels, violence, guerrilla insurgencies and gross human rights violations. It is one of the most violent countries in the world, deterring both tourists and investors. This has had a dire impact on the country’s economy with 60% of Colombians living below the poverty line. Also limited access to education and healthcare negatively impacts on Colombian children and adolescents life chances.

The current conflict has produced 2 million internally displaced people, half of which are children. There are approximately 6.5 million children living in conditions of poverty and 1.1 million live in conditions of extreme poverty.

Some of the reasons why Plan works in Colombia

• 14% of children under five suffer from stunted growth due to poor nutrition
• Over one million children between the ages of 5-17 work, often in hazardous occupations
• Up to 7,000 children are estimated to have been recruited as soldiers by illegal armed groups
• Violent conflicts result in an estimated 4,000 deaths annually