The Kids Left Behind: How To Help Aging Out Orphans

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There are currently 110,000 children living under government protection in Colombia.

While some of these children are eventually adopted or reunited with their biological families, an overwhelming percentage will spend their childhood inside an institution and then age out of the system with zero support or guidance.

How do we intervene for these kids, now young adults, and help prevent the cycle of poverty?

We believe we can make a difference for these young adults by filling in the gap with support, mentorship, and education and we’re changing lives through our very first Dream Home!

Together with our partner in Colombia, we’re creating Dream Homes for children aging out of institutional care. Dream Homes provide a safe space for teenagers to transition into independent adulthood. The young adults who will live in the Dream Home have grown up in the child welfare system and are now preparing for their future without the love of a family, the wisdom of a mentor, or
 the life skills they need to succeed. Without access to an age-appropriate environment and a strong spiritual and emotional support system, many 
of these young adults will fall victim to prostitution, substance abuse, homelessness, or even suicide.

19-year-old Laura (pictured) is one of the first students to receive support through AGCI’s very first Dream Home in Colombia! Laura spent the past 8 years living in an institution, as her birth mother was unable to care for her. Today, Laura is an excellent student and enjoys studying English. Laura is majoring in law and hopes to finish college within the next 3 years!

Through the Dream Home, kids like Laura who previously would have been on the streets will now have an opportunity to study, live, and learn how to be an adult while pursuing a college degree or vocational training program. Our Dream Home for older orphans is the first of its kind in Colombia and will serve as a holistic model of transitional care.

By becoming an Independence Sponsor, you can make a difference for young adults like Laura! Your support provides the opportunities
 and resources needed for a young adult to earn their college degree or vocational training certification while living in a loving home and learning what it means to be a successful, independent adult. Thanks to your monthly support, your sponsored youth will receive 24/7 love and mentorship from house parents, clothing, healthy food, medical care, tutoring, textbooks, and the invaluable gift of knowing that there are people who love and believe in them!

Additionally, a portion of your sponsorship helps give children living in institutions within the region access to the intervention programs they need for a brighter future.