Colombia (MNN) – As years of armed conflict continue to plague Colombia, armed groups actively target and recruit children. Brian Dennett with AMG International says that children as young as twelve or thirteen are drawn into the violence, trafficking, and exploitation of armed groups and cartels.
“These armed groups are infiltrating schools, communities and manipulating kids as well as their families – their moms and dads – with promises of money, with future opportunity, protection and a better life, which is simply untrue. The numbers really are staggering. Last year alone, Columbia recorded 600 cases of child recruitment. And that is such a low number compared with reality. Many humanitarian groups are estimating that the number is closer to 1000s of children.”
Displaced and Vulnerable
The violence has displaced many of the families AMG serves in Soacha and Cali. This pushes them into deep poverty and which makes them more vulnerable to armed groups. Additionally, these groups are increasingly targeting kids in public schools and major cities rather than solely relying on their previous technique of kidnappings.
(Photo is a representative stock image courtesy of Alejandro Jovica via Pexels.)
“Boys are recruited as fighters or as couriers, and girls are frequently subjected to sexual violence,” Dennett says. “We’ve heard of armed groups even using kids as human shields in altercations. Just that happened weeks ago in Guaviare, where nineteen people had been killed in a military operation. Among those nineteen were seven children.”
Child Development Centers with AMG
AMG runs a child development center in Cacau, Colombia where children can be physically safe from the violence while they learn, are mentored, and cared for spiritually. The staff there has been able to work with local churches to help protect kids.
“In another case, we had a 16-year-old boy was sent to Soacha because armed groups were targeting him directly. Though he was too old for sponsorship in AMG, he found a place to belong, to heal, to grow spiritually at our center and be mentored.”
(Photo is courtesy of AMG International.)
Just like they have for that boy, AMG has offered countless children a place to thrive despite violence and pain. Dennet notes that their staff operates in difficult places and dangerous circumstances. However, God is at work!
“We’re offering security and safety, education, hot meals, spiritual formation and a lot of love – a place for these children to belong. And for many of these children, these centers are the difference between being targeted by the groups and being safe and protected. Really the difference between despair and hope.”
Please pray for these children. If you’d like to help support AMG financially, click here.
Header photo is courtesy of AMG International.
