User:Vitda22688/Children of the Andes

Children of the Andes (COTA) is a UK registered charity dedicated to supporting Colombia's most vulnerable children. COTA was established in 1991 to support vulnerable children in Colombia. Today, it is the largest UK charity working exclusively in Colombia, where it works in partnership with local NGOs on a wide range of projects which provide education, support vulnerable families, help make communities safer and help young people develop the skills and confidence they need to build independent and fulfilling lives.

Aims
COTA is committed to keeping children safe, defending their rights, and strengthening local organisations in Colombia. It believes that every child has the right to safety, education and a happy childhood.

How COTA Started
Children of the Andes (COTA) was established in 1991 following the transmission of a BBC documentary on the plight of Bogota's "sewer children" - street children who had literally been driven underground by street gangs and the police and had taken refuge in the sewers of Colombia's capital. The documentary featured the work of Jaime Jaramillo, a Colombian philanthropist, who was providing food, shelter and support to the children through his foundation Fundacion Ninos de los Andes, Subachoque (FNA Subachoque)

COTA supported the work of FNA Subachoque for 13 years and raised over £1.5 million. Thanks in part to this support, children no longer live in the sewers of Bogota.

Children of the Andes has continued to work exclusively in Colombia, but now focus on addressing the needs of all the most vulnerable groups of children including street children, working children, children with disabilities, children with HIV and Aids and children affected by the conflict.

What COTA does
Children of the Andes (COTA) works to keep children safe, defend their rights in the long term, and strengthen children's organisations in Colombia.

Currently it's work falls into four key areas: Education, Preparing for Adult Life, Supporting Families and Making Communities Safer.

COTA's Partners
COTA works with nine partner organizations in Colombia.

http://www.fundacionmamayolanda.org/

http://fundacionrenacer.org/

http://www.fundamor.org/

http://fundacionhrbc.jimdo.com/

Other links
COTA's website

COTA's Facebook Page

COTA's Twitter Page

COTA's Youtube channel