The Madrid Campestre Foundation is a non-profit organization established in 1985. It was born out of the necessity to assist the community in the El Pesebre neighborhood due to their limited resources. The foundation initiated activities related to Christmas, market management, aid in house construction, and support for children who lacked access to education.
The Foundation operates 5 child centers in the neighborhoods of Blanquizal, Calasanz, Olaya Herrera, and Palenque. The majority of the served population is characterized by high vulnerability, classified under strata 1, 2, and 3, making them a priority for the comprehensive care provided by the child centers. These include children, adults, and migrants who are in the process of legalizing their stay in the country. This adds to the overall unemployment issue for both locals and foreigners.
It’s important to note that in many families, both significant figures don’t have a secure and stable income. As a result, there’s a lack of adequate care and safety conditions for their nutritional and health rights during the day. There’s also a lack of a reliable support network for care during their time at home. This often involves dysfunctional family structures, where one parent is absent from child-rearing. Additionally, overcrowding in small homes with extended family members is common.
Given the economic and social challenges in the country, significant adults, including pregnant and lactating mothers, are often required to leave home early for long working hours to provide for their families. This emphasizes the issue of unequal wages, sometimes leading to extended working hours. As a result, children are compelled to spend almost the entire day (8 hours) at the child centers, which become a second home for them. These centers provide up to 70% of their daily meals, highlighting the limited quality time available during the week. Some children may have up to three different caregivers until their parents return late at night due to household demands.
Over the 38 years of its operation, the foundation has provided assistance to over 10,000 children from various vulnerable neighborhoods in the city of Medellín. Currently, 475 children aged 2 to 5 from Medellín receive free care from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays. They are guaranteed 70% of their meals and receive support from teachers, nutritionists, psychosocial workers, and special educators.