Helping children with disabilities fulfil their potential
Disabled children in Colombia are often hidden away and unable to participate fully in life because of high levels of stigma surrounding disability. In 2006, a census in the city of Cali found that 136,581 people in Cali have some form of disability, with around 2,200 disabled children.
The majority of disabled children live in the poorest areas of Cali. Poverty can cause or exacerbate disabilities because of limited access to healthcare, poor living conditions, and malnutrition. Disabled children also have very low levels of access to education - over half of disabled children in Cali have never attended school or dropped out during primary school.
Children with disabilities may be left at home all day, sometimes even tied to the bed "for their own safety". Even with the best intentions parents lack the practical knowledge of how to care for their children appropriately.
Quality of life and inclusion
The aim of Fundación HRBC is to improve the quality of life of vulnerable children with disabilities and their families. This is done by supporting the learning, development and educational inclusion of children with disabilities; and by increasing families' capacity to support children with disabilities.
The project runs four community outreach bases from libraries and other public spaces in four of the most deprived areas in Cali and the surrounding region. These bases are a life line for disabled children and their carers - providing advice, support and respite and helping disabled children and young people gain vital life skills, access education, and become active members of their communities for the first time.
As well as directly reaching children with disabilities and their families, the project raises awareness of disability issues and rights. They work in the community to dispel myths about disability, to help children show their communities that they are people with abilities, and to fulfil their rights to inclusion in all aspects of life.
Visit HRBC's website: www.fundacionhrbc.jimdo.com
