WHAT WE DO

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Niños del Futuro contributes to increasing the potential of children and teenagers growing up in disadvantaged neighborhoods, so that they can have a promising future. By offering a safe environment and providing activities, education and sports opportunities, their social, emotional, cognitive and self development are stimulated. An environment is created in which individual attention, care for each other and togetherness are central.

Niños del Futuro has been active since September 2020. They have started organizing playful activities in the deprived neighborhoods of Medellin, Colombia. Later, a community center was created in one of these neighborhoods where local children and young people come together to cook and eat, play games, take courses, receive individual attention and, above all, feel safe. Through social media we create awareness about the situations in which children and young people grow up in disadvantaged neighborhoods, including the Dutch population. With this we also spread the positive energy of Niños del Futuro.

Self-reliance: When children and teenagers are involved in Niños del Futuro, we give them different tasks. In this way they learn to deal with responsibilities and how to take care of themselves and others. They experience involvement and satisfaction, and their self-confidence grows. In addition to the skills that the children and young people improve, there is a lot of focus on the social aspect so that they can develop as loving, grateful and helpful people. We believe that this combination gives them a stronger position in the labor market and in society.

Involvement: We find a personal bond with the children and young people very important. We are involved, interested and listen to them. In this way, trust is built and there is room for children and young people to share what concerns them and to possibly look for solutions together. We show commitment not only during the projects but also outside of them, such as in their home situation.

In addition, we motivate mutual involvement between children and young people and between them and their neighbors.

Culture and Creativity: Through cultural and creative activities, courses and outings, we give children and young people the opportunity to broaden their world and discover new interests. In this way we want to build a bridge between disadvantaged neighborhoods and other parts of a city/country, and give children and young people experiences to which they normally have limited access.

Self-love: We think it is important that children see their own potential, get to know their own strengths and qualities, be able to take care of themselves, indicate their limits, know who they are, and above all learn to love themselves. Within Niños del Futuro, activities are organized that respond to these themes, in addition to personal conversations.

Safety: We offer the children and young people at Niños del Futuro a safe place (the community center) where they can go and do activities, so that they do not spend their day on the streets. We also offer safety in the form of security. A place where they can be themselves, feel safe with others and develop in their own way. In this way we create a community and social control together