“I lived on a farm with my parents, three siblings.  An airplane overflew our town and bombarded our home for an unknown reason to me.  My older siblings died immediately and I was left severely wounded – my left leg was completely imputed and I lost the kneecap of my right limb as well.  After the accident, my parents and I came to Bogota and we were contacted by Colombianitos.  Colombianitos has been giving me since then the best prosthesis and helped my dream to be able to walk again come true.”  Lizeth Paola Noche, 17 years old.

Colombia has registered the highest number of landmine victims worldwide. Civilian casualties rose from 66 in Year 2000 to 314 in Year 2006, with over 65 cases affecting young boys and girls.  (Colombian Landmine Observatory, International Campaign to Ban Landmines Monitor Report.) Children mutilated by landmine explosions not only suffer serious physical damage and/or loss of limbs, the impact of the event itself affects their overall well being and capacity to function in society.

Colombianitos works in alliance with United for Colombia to provide children victims of landmine explosions with transportation to Bogota (with a companion) for prostheses, physical therapy, psychological rehabilitation and educational support until they are legally recognized as adults.