Every child deserves a safe home: $2.1 million grant will provide family-based care for children in Colombia separated from families in migration crisis  

Washington, D.C.—November 18, 2024—At SOS Children’s Villages, we believe every child deserves a safe, loving home. Recently, we received a $2.1 million grant from the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM) to support our Protection Beyond Borders program, which will offer trauma-informed, family-based care to children separated from their families in Colombia due to the ongoing migration crisis.  

Every day, thousands of children cross into Colombia, fleeing the economic hardship, violence and limited essential services in Venezuela. More than 800,000 children have settled in Colombia, many of them alone, separated from their families and facing unimaginable threats to their well-being. 

When I think about these children, I’m reminded of a moment from my childhood. As a young girl, I went to the grocery store with my mother, who was wearing a green coat. I followed that green coat throughout the store until, suddenly, I looked up to realize that the person wearing the green coat in front of me wasn’t my mother. Immediately, panic set in. Although my mother was in the same room, the fear of being alone and abandoned was overwhelming.  

I can’t imagine traveling to another country, surrounded by strangers, only to look up and realize the one person you depend on most—your parent—isn’t there. 

For the children who have fled Venezuela and settled in Colombia, that fear of abandonment isn’t temporary—it’s a harsh reality of daily life. They are extremely vulnerable to trafficking, hunger and exploitation, without the safety and security of a parent to guide them. 

But there is hope. 

Thanks to our grant from PRM, SOS Children’s Villages will provide safe homes, emotional and psychological healing and educational support to over 5,000 children in Colombia. These children, who have already endured incredible trauma, will find more than just shelter. They will be surrounded by the safety, love and stability that only a family environment can offer. 

For over 75 years, SOS Children’s Villages has cared for children who have lost their families. Our mission has always been clear: every child deserves a safe home and loving family. We’ve carried this commitment into crises around the world—from the war in Ukraine to the earthquake in Morocco and the conflict in Israel, Lebanon and Palestine—and we’re prepared to do the same in Colombia.  

Not only do we provide immediate care for children in need, but we also provide children with the resources they need for long-term well-being and success.  With the emotional support, stability and loving environment of a family, these children can heal and continue to grow into their full potential.  

Our local staff in Colombia and Venezuela understand the cultural nuances, traditions and dialects of the children we care for, creating a culturally sensitive experience for children that helps them adapt to their new home while staying connected to their roots.   

In the face of a crisis this massive, some may wonder: Can we really make a difference? The answer is a resounding, dedicated yes. We are uniquely equipped to help these children, drawing on decades of expertise in trauma-informed care, education and child protection in humanitarian crises.  

But we can’t do it alone. 

As a society, we are measured by how we care for our most vulnerable members. These children, fleeing violence, hunger and exploitation, deserve the chance to grow up in a safe, nurturing environment. They deserve to know what it feels like to belong to a family. 

This is why we urgently need your support. Every day, these children face life-threatening dangers, and the demand for our services is growing. I often think back to that brief moment in the store when I lost sight of my mother. The fear I felt, though fleeting, was profound. For these children, that fear is exponentially compounded by the uncertainty of losing everything familiar—their home, families and safety. 

At SOS Children’s Villages, we are here for these children. We offer more than just protection and safety. We offer the love of a family and hope for a brighter future. Together, we can give vulnerable children the care they desperately need. 

Please join us in supporting these children. Because there is no decision more worthwhile than giving a child a safe home and loving family. 

To learn more about SOS Children’s Villages and its programs, or to get involved, visit www.sos-usa.org.   

About SOS Children’s Villages:  

SOS Children’s Villages is the world’s largest organization providing safe, loving homes to children without parental care. For more than 75 years and in 130 countries, SOS Children’s Villages has been raising children with everything they need—loving families, healthy food, quality education, professional health care and more. SOS provides continual support as young people transition into adulthood—all while strengthening the families and communities around them, so children and young people can reach their full potential and thrive.  

Contact:   

Jennifer Teichman  
Director of Creative Strategy and Services  
SOS Children’s Villages USA  
jteichman@sos-usa.org  
(401) 338-5997  
sos-usa.org