ICBF Support for Migrant Youth & Children Program

Colombia_ICBF_Migrant Youth and Children Program

The ICBF (Instituto Colombiano de Bienestar Familiar / Colombian Institute for Family Welfare) is the Colombian Government entity that works for the integral protection of early childhood, childhood, adolescence, and the well-being of families in Colombia, providing special attention to those in conditions of threat, nonobservance or violation of their rights. It reaches more than eight million Colombians with its programs, strategies, and care services through its 33 regional headquarters and 213 zonal centers throughout the country.

ACDI/VOCA’s Program of Alliances for Reconciliation (PAR) has worked with them as part of our security and peaceful coexistence strategy and work with Venezuelan migrants. ICBF strengthened the support it provides to Venezuelan migrant children and youth, specifically with regards to prevention of violence and human right violations.

Project Objectives

Strengthened the capacities of agents of the national system of family welfare at the territorial level to achieve comprehensive protection of children and adolescents due to the migratory phenomenon
Developed and implemented a strategy of social mobilization to facilitate access to state services for migrant families

Project Activities & Approaches

ACDI/VOCA and Fundación ACDI/VOCA LA (FAVLA) provided training and workshops about the services that are available to vulnerable, migrant populations
Trained individuals on where and how to report on violence or human rights violations
Targeted trainings for government officials that may be dealing with these populations and not have the experience and knowledge needed to support migrant children and youth

Anticipated Project Results

The project is holding 16 workshops with 640 participations to provide socialization in the various territories, including six workshops with 370 migrant families and 10 workshops with 270 agents from the National Family Welfare System (SNBF)
The project is distributing 20 DecidoSer kits to SNBF agents to improve their skills in dialogue, respect, confidence building, and empowerment

Funder: Instituto Colombiano de Bienestar Familiar (ICBF) / Colombian Institute of Family Welfare