Supporting New Arrivals from Venezuela to Colombia

IsraAID Colombia continues to strengthen resilience and foster hope within the communities we serve. We are excited to share a few recent highlights that showcase the breadth of our work.

A New Chapter for Wayuu Youth

We are thrilled to announce the official launch of our newest project, RISE: Resilient, Innovation, Sustainability, and Empowerment of Youth, Families, and Communities. This innovative program addresses critical mental health challenges among indigenous Wayuu youth by integrating ancestral self-care practices with modern leadership workshops and digital tools. By building knowledge, reducing stigma, and strengthening livelihoods, RISE equips young people to become leaders of change in their own communities. We are also incredibly proud that this initiative has already been featured by The Wellbeing for Planet Earth Foundation's 'Being' initiative, recognizing its unique and culturally sensitive approach.

Safe Water for Over 4,500 Children

As one chapter begins, another successfully concludes. We recently wrapped up the AquaGEN project, a powerful partnership with Americares and Cummins. This initiative focused on improving WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) infrastructure in Barranquilla. Today, over 4,500 boys and girls across five schools have access to renovated bathrooms and safe, reliable water sources, ensuring a healthier and more dignified learning environment.

Connecting Communities

On the ground, our work continues to bring communities together. Recently, children from our Child-Friendly Spaces in Ciudad Cangrejo and Los Guacamayos joined for a day of connection and learning. The day was filled with educational activities, interactive plays presented by the Baúl Polisemico theater collective, and environmental education. The highlight was a tour of the nearby Mallorquín Marsh, where the children from Ciudad Cangrejo became the teachers, proudly introducing their peers to the vital mangrove ecosystem in their own backyard. It was a powerful moment of shared pride, curiosity, and peer-to-peer learning.

From launching innovative mental health programs and ensuring basic needs like safe water are met, to fostering moments of shared joy and learning, every activity is a step towards a more resilient future for the communities we work alongside.

None of this would be possible without you. Thank you for being part of this journey!

At the end of 2024, IsraAID Colombia celebrated half a decade of working alongside local communities through crisis and change. Now, in 2025, we have the opportunity to reflect on our fifth year on-the-ground in Colombia, recognizing that these numbers are more than just statistics- they tell a story of resilience and collaboration. 

A critical part of enhancing community sustainability is boosting socioeconomic resilience by helping individuals and communities discover new opportunities and build stable livelihoods. To support this, IsraAID’s “Growing Together” program provides vocational training and job opportunities, focusing on employability and entrepreneurship. Last year's key achievements include: 

• 370 peopleparticipated in IsraAID’s professional and personal development workshops. 

• 432 individuals connected with potential employers through job fairs we ran with local partners, where they also learned to craft resumes, master interview skills, and enhance financial anddigital literacy. 

• 50 aspiring entrepreneurs have completed training and received seed funding, resulting in the successful establishment of 18 businesses to date. 

•  In partnership with local communities, we helped establish two community-led, self-sustaining businesses, Cangreamor Bakery and Mercado Campesino.  

These businesses are not only creating jobs and supporting local economies but also contributing to a greater vision of economic empowerment and sustainability. By building the capacity to adapt to economic challenges and create self-sufficient businesses, communities can break the cycle of poverty, fostering long-term economic independence and stability.  

Throughout our five years in Colombia, we have also worked to increase emotional and mental resilience within the communities we serve. IsraAID’s “Strong Families, Safe Community” program provided critical psychosocial and educational support to thousands of children and their families in 2024, including: 

• 772 frontline workerswere trained in mental health and self-care, equipping them to better support vulnerable Venezuelans to navigatelifein Colombia. 

• 3,107 migrants facing eviction received vital healthcare, economic assistance, and access to facilities designed to provide immediate, short-term housingvia our Mobile Unit for Comprehensive Community Care.  

• 537 childrenbenefited from IsraAID’sCommunity-Friendly Spaces (CFSs), with 96% showing academic improvement. 

• 392 caregivers joined support groups to build community, reduce isolation, and strengthen parental engagement, improving their children's education and well-being. 

Behind every statistic, there are real stories. For onefamily, the challenges of displacement from Venezuela to Colombia were compounded by homelessness and the devastating loss of their mother.The older children took on the roles of caregivers, straining family dynamics. Through IsraAID’s CFS in El Paraiso, the family found dialogue circles to strengthen communication, toolsfor emotional regulation, parental guidance and support, and creative activities to help them process grief.These interventions allowed the family to rebuild their connections, manage stress, and foster a more nurturing, supportive environment, ultimately empowering them to navigate their challenges with greater resilience and hope. 

Over the past year, the number of Venezuelan migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees in Colombia reached an all-time high of nearly 2.9 million people, many facing unemployment, discrimination, and limited access to essential resources.IsraAID’s work in Colombia is more vital than ever, and its impact is only possible through the continued support of dedicated partners like you. Thank you for your ongoing support, and we look forward to an impactful year ahead!