Youth Development Program
The Ciudad Refugio Youth Development program was born out of the children’s ministry in the community of Manantiales. Manantiales is the second largest community of internally displaced people in Colombia. IDPs come to this community from different parts of the country under different contexts and circumstances, displaced by armed violence, natural disasters, and forced land acquisitions that devastate the lifestyle of campesinos (local farmers) are some examples.
With time and God’s guidance, we realized that this situation was also happening in our surroundings, our neighborhood.
After several years, Ciudad Refugio volunteers noticed that older youth were at particularly high risk due to exposure to gangs, drugs, dysfunctional homes, and lack of access to education. We began to pray and commit to finding ways to work with these young people, and to ask the Lord to lead us to those who had genuinely made the decision to follow Jesus and were interested in changing their lives and their future.
Ciudad Refugio has developed a small group of young people with whom we work, some of whom sleep here on weekends and others who live in the foundation with us full time. Our goal is to provide an environment and opportunities for them to succeed in all areas of life, spiritually, physically and emotionally. We offer them a second home and advise them vocationally, academically, spiritually and in the correct management of their different relationships. It is our desire to raise up this new generation, as a generation of leaders who love to serve and transform the community of Manantiales.
Benefits of the youth development program
Education
Living at the foundation allows teenagers to attend higher-quality schools in Medellín, as well as providing them with access to tutors and mentors to help them with their homework and to promptly address problems that may impede their learning process.
Structured life
Our young leaders are given boundaries and structures regarding their behavior and lifestyle at the foundation and in the community. This contributes to their growth and maturity.
Safe environment
Ciudad Refugio is a place of peace, without violence, drugs or weapons, which provides young people with a safe environment to live, connect with a community and build relationships.
Mentors
Each of the young people is assigned a mentor to accompany them during their stay at the foundation.
Responsibilities
We give each of the young people specific responsibilities to teach them how to contribute to the community of which they are now a part.
Leadership Development
Leadership Development In order to train them as leaders, these young people become mentors to the younger children of Manantiales, and are also assigned responsibilities within various projects that are carried out in the community of Manantiales.
Are you interested in youth development?
Are you a Christian educator or counselor? Please contact us if you are interested in learning about how to serve with us on a long-term basis.
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