Responding to the needs of unaccompanied children in Colombia with temporary, family-based care
An SOS Psychologist notes: “When unaccompanied migrant minors arrive in Colombia, most of them have suffered traumatic experiences that lead to low self-esteem and insecurity, which does not allow them to plan their future and their next steps. SOS Children’s Villages Colombia offers temporary shelter to migrant unaccompanied minors while providing psychosocial support to work on resilience and emotional recovery.”
SOS Children’s Villages Colombia also supports children to obtain refugee status so they have access to basic services, such as health care and education.
In 2021, we cared for 323 unaccompanied and separated children in Colombia. Of these, 78% have been reunited with their families.
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Background: Today, 79.5 million people are displaced from their homes, more than any other time in recorded history. Children are disproportionately affected, accounting for nearly half of forcibly displaced people worldwide. These unaccompanied and separated children are at risk of violence and abuse, psychological stress, poor nutrition, hunger, loss of education, inadequate healthcare, and permanent separation from their families. According to the UN, they are also in danger of grave violations including death, recruitment into armed groups, abduction, and rape or sexual violence.
SOS Children’s Villages works in coordination with national governments and other humanitarian actors to identify, document, trace, and reunify unaccompanied and separated children with their families. At the same time, SOS Children’s Villages trains local professionals working with children (such as health officials, police forces, border patrol) on case management for unaccompanied and separated children.
Learn more about how SOS cares for children separated from their families during an emergency.