When Kaner first visited the University of Magdalena, he turned to his teacher and said quietly, “I hope that one day I can study here.” For a boy growing up in Colombia’s Banana Zone, it was a bold dream. In this region, poverty is rife and educational opportunities are few. Most families rely on work in the banana plantations, earning very low wages. Homes are often unfinished and overcrowded, with several family members sharing a room, sometimes even the same bed.
In the Banana Zone of northern Colombia there is very little hope. Families live in terrible conditions, far below the poverty line and are surrounded by the constant threat of violence. For children growing up in a small, neglected town, the cycle of poverty seems inescapable and the chance of a brighter future, impossible.
Many children in Colombia face neglect, trauma and hopelessness in their home lives. Our Emmanuel Care Center is providing children with the daily support, food, education and counselling they need to overcome such challenges.