Feliciano lives with his grandmother and great-grandmother in the village of Tumaco in Columbia. Like most teenage boys, 16 year old Feliciano enjoys football and watching television, but the poverty within his community means that daily life is a struggle for Feliciano and his family. Their home is a small wooden house with a corrugated roof. The house is in very poor condition with no lavatory or running water and disease is a constant threat.
Feliciano is a bright boy and enjoys attending the local secondary school, where he studies hard and shows a natural ability for mathematics. His grandmother is keen for him to do well and hopes that through the sponsorship he is receiving, Feliciano will be able to complete his education and secure a better future for himself.
Columbia is a country gripped by civil war. Feliciano’s community in Tumaco is in the middle of an area controlled by the guerrilla, and many local farmers have fled to avoid being caught up in the fighting. The consequence of this is that the area is largely populated by displaced people, many of them abandoned women and children. With high unemployment, poor education and inadequate sanitary conditions, there is a constant battle against disease and poverty. There are no health facilities within the community and the nearest hospital is two hours away.
Plan Columbia’s objectives include a massive vaccination programme to fight against disease, improved water and sanitary conditions and a literacy programme for adults, which they hope will help to increase self-esteem and provide a better chance for the community to thrive. |
