When the world says, “Give up,”
Hope whispers, “Try it one more time.”
-Author Unknown
According to the Geneva-based Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC), between 4,000,000-5,000,000 people are displaced in Colombia. With such staggering numbers which have surpassed numbers in the war-torn area of Sudan, how can such a large population be forgotten? Apparently quite easily. Throughout the 40 years of ongoing warfare between the government and armed miltants, these people have had the misfortune of being caught in the cross-fire, forced from their homes to lead lives on the streets of Colombia’s most bustling cities. They are the invisible faces in the crowd. The IDMC describes these people as internally-displaced “persons or groups of persons who have been forced or obliged to flee or to leave their homes or places of habitual residence…” frequently as a result of natural disasters and/or periods of intense violence as that seen in Colombia.
Once you are separated from both your home how do you protect yourself and your family on the streets of Bogotá? Internally-displaced people (IDP) lack access to emergency support, leaving them to fend for themselves without the aid of their own government. They lack both the economic and cultural resources available to the “average” citizens to enable them to make a living and enjoy a quality of life many of us take for granted. Oftentimes the internally-displaced lack proper identification, leaving them with no access to proper healthcare, proper education or shelter let alone food and other basic necessities to maintain a “normal” lifestyle.
What challenges must you face in your new life? Unfortunately, many households are ran by single-parents (usually women) who struggle to support an average of 5.2 children compared to the national average of 4 children among non-displaced families. Not only do the women face losing their husbands (and a large part of the family’s income), but they face sexual exploitation and abuse without resources to help them deal with both the physical and mental consequences of rape. Once again, the voices of millions are but a whisper among the masses. Discrimination is oftentimes prevalent in the areas of the country IDPs emigrate to; discrimination severely limits opportunities for employment, shelter, and ultimately quality of life.
Last but not least, how will your children rise from such a discouraging situation and live the life you want them to lead? They face an uncertain, unimaginable future. While their physical well-being is frequently effected. Their psychological well-being is also at stake. In order to prevent thousands from becoming another statistic, efforts must be made to educate the children, provide the shelter and protection that was out of their parent’s reach, and give them the opportunity to become productive members of their society. This is the aim of Children Beyond Our Borders (CBOB), a Florida-based organization whose aim is to give these children hope for a better future. As we speak, programs are on the verge of being implemented to mentor the children in areas such as career development (among others). Trips like Crossing Borders are also made to bring awareness of the dire situation the children face on a daily basis. Volunteers are sent to not only help educate these eager pupils but to witness first-hand the truth in Colombia. Many go on to advocate for the cause CBOB is working hard to bring to the forefront. We want to bring hope to those without a voice. WE DARE YOU TO DREAM, TO EXPLORE, TO MAKE A CHANGE. Join us in this fight to better the futures of these children.
