| Obra Social Mornés |
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Location: Bogotá, Colombia
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In
the year 2000, a Sisterhood of nuns conducted a study in Ciudad Bolivar, Bogotá
finding a large proportion of children at risk for living on the streets,
falling into patterns of delinquency, drug addiction, and other dangers which
could impede their education, development, and ultimately, their
success. Obra Social Mornés was born the following year from the vision of
providing these children with an alternative to their previously dangerous
lifestyles. Since then, it has served as a place where the children can find
refuge while learning and developing.
As of
2008, the center serves over 170 children ages eight to fifteen. Many of these
children are either out on the streets or at home alone while their parents are
begging for money. Obra Social Mornés offers these youngsters nutritional
support, accelerated learning programs for those children who are out of school
and want to return, tutoring for those who are enrolled in the education
system, psychological support, and vocational training programs to promote
future employment. The vocational training program is a refuge from the
detrimental conditions in which these children live, and a complement to the
need that they have to find a dignifying job.
Genesis
has been supporting the vocational training program, which completed its
initial phase (2006-2007). Phase I consists of providing the students with the
theoretical basis for each workshop so that they can start with the production
of the materials (the workshops are jewellery, textiles, machines and
elaboration of knots). Now, they want to continue with Phase I for the new
students that become part of the program, but they will initiate with Phase II,
in which the students will receive specific training in entrepreneurship,
production and business, so that they can create strategic businesses plans to
organize their own micro-businesses and strengthen their job skills.
For
further information on this organization, or to make a donation, please contact
us
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