Background

The Luciana Programme attends to children and youth with disabilities such as: low hearing and vision, cerebral palsy, Downs syndrome, epilepsy, etc. Their families feel lonely and unprepared to deal with their particular situation. The disabled children are often not enrolled in any school system, preventing them from any progress or social life.

The families are enrolled in the national health system but receive very little benefits.

Objective

To contribute to the improvement of the life of mentally and physically disabled children and youth in Suba Aures (suburb of Bogota).  

Activities

  • Artistic workshops: music, dancing and singing workshops, jewellery and decorative handcraft workshops (macramé, necklaces, embroidery)

  • Therapy (Thursdays): teaching of reading and writing, teaching through play of numbers and colours. Luciana Programme is in touch with the family therapist and, in some cases, has access to their medical records.

  • Handcraft workshops for parents (knitting, sewing)

Results

  • Beneficiaries improved their artistic skills (music, painting): handmade artistic creations (paper boxes, painting on ceramic and glass, cards,

  • Beneficiaries improved their group and family interaction (and any social skills): better understanding of their needs.

  • Beneficiaries improved their speaking pronunciation (thanks to learning of songs)

  • Beneficiaries improved their self-esteem (some of their creations were sold in solidarity markets, which improved their confidence).

  • Beneficiaries improved their mental skills: increased their memory and attention time

  • Beneficiaries improved their physical skills: one of the girls confined her wheel chair managed to stand up and walk along the music.  

  • Identity of group was created.

  • Parents have increased their income with the sales of their handcrafts. 

 

Extra comments : 

The Programa Luciana is included in a larger project, Proyecto Taller San José.

 

 

People being served

People being served : Children and Young People

Age group : Adults 26-60, Children 0-17, Young people 18-25

Number of participants : mai-50

Schedule

Project status : Ongoing

Staring date : 01/06/2013

Collaborations

  • Collaboration type : Financial

    Collaboration with : Mother House Solidarity Fund

    Grants in 2013, 2014 and 2015

  • Collaboration type : In kind/voluntary

    Collaboration with : Private organisations

    University of Bogota: students volunteering

Images

Overview

Society presence : Colombia

Focus of the project : People

JPIC Imperative : Transforming and Being Transformed

UN Sustainable Development Goals : 10 Reduced Inequalities, 17 Partnerships for the Goals, 3 Good Health and Well being