Supporting children and families when crisis strikes

Across Colombia, children and young people face multiple emergencies — from floods and natural disasters to violence, displacement, and humanitarian crises.

Emergency Response

In the moments when communities need support the most, Children Change Colombia works alongside trusted local partners to respond quickly and effectively. Our emergency projects focus on protecting children, restoring stability, and creating safe spaces where young people can recover, learn, and rebuild hope.

For over 35 years, we have worked in some of the most vulnerable regions of the country. When emergencies occur, our local partnerships allow us to reach communities quickly and provide support that responds directly to their needs.

Responding to Crises Across Colombia

Our emergency work focuses on both immediate relief and longer-term recovery, ensuring children and families receive the support they need during and after crises. Children Change Colombia’s emergency projects have supported communities affected by:

Floods and extreme weather events
Armed conflict and forced displacement
Protection risks facing children and young people
Disruptions to education and community life

Through these efforts, we help communities recover, rebuild, and strengthen resilience for the future.

Safe spaces for children

We help create protective environments where children can learn, play, and receive emotional support in times of uncertainty, such as our Multipurpose Shelter built in Choco with our partner, Acadesan.

Community support and protection

We support families, teachers, and caregivers with training and resources that help strengthen protective environments for children. Through these ‘adult-focused’ workshops, we equip them to support children through these times while building their own resilience amidst emergency situations.

Psychosocial support

Emergencies can have deep emotional impacts. Through trained facilitators and community programmes, we provide psychosocial support to help children process trauma and rebuild confidence, such as our work in Catatumbo with Fundacion 5 Sentidos.

Rapid support through local partners

By working with trusted grassroots organisations across Colombia, we ensure responses are community-led, culturally relevant, and sustainable. Many of these regions affected by emergencies are hard to reach, so having a direct engagement with the community is extremely important to support the people and provide essentials during these times.

Education and continuity of learning

When crises disrupt schooling, we work with partners to ensure children can continue learning and remain connected to education by distributing school kits and creating safe spaces that double as classrooms for children to continue their learning.

Support our Current Emergency Appeals

Violence and Disasters in Catatumbo

A humanitarian crisis is unfolding in Catatumbo, northeastern Colombia, as escalating violence between rival armed groups has forced over 42,000 people to flee their home. At least 80 lives have been lost, and many civilians remain trapped in the crossfire. Thousands lack food, clean water, and medical aid, while schools remain closed. Immediate humanitarian assistance is urgently needed. Vulnerable populations, including migrants and indigenous communities, lack access to essentials like food and water.

Floodings in Colombia's Caribbean Coast

Unusually heavy and persistent rainfall over recent days has triggered widespread flooding along Colombia’s Caribbean coast, affecting more than 69,000 families, and causing severe damage to homes, livelihoods, and critical infrastructure. Thousands of already vulnerable families are left without shelter, food, or access to basic services. The scale of material damage and personal loss demands an urgent humanitarian response.