ANNUAL REPORT OF ACTIVITIES 2008

Dear Friends and Collaborators:

On behalf of the boys and girls that benefit from our programs and from our team, I thank you for the support you give us and wish you a 2009 filled with success.

For Colombianitos, 2008 was a year of strengthening. Our “Goals for a Better Life” program continues to build up and become a perfect tool to keep children and youngsters away from violence, crime and drugs and invite them to education at the same time.

During this year, we included school reinforcements in all the communities where we operate. With this program we get parents and youngsters to help the smaller children to perform better at school and to give personalized assistance to those that are having difficulties in specific subjects.

We implemented the Music and Dance program that only operated in Puerto Tejada, in Medellin, Cartagena and Barbosa. The music keeps demonstrating it’s qualities to help increase self-esteem and to help our children value their culture.

We continue to make special emphasis in social work with children and their parents, by teaching families values and addressing the social problems in their communities.

In 2008, a pilot program was started in Puerto Tejada in alliance with “A Ganar” / Vencer www.aganar.org. With this program we aim to equip 20 youngsters, through football, with skills that will prepare them to be competitive in the labor opportunities of the communities where they live.

We know that 2009 will be a challenging year for Colombianitos with the world wide financial crisis. We hope to continue counting on your commitment and support through this critical time. Your funding is essential for the development of our programs.

Thank you for your support.

A. Patricia Janiot
President

THANKS TO YOUR HELP, WE ACHIEVED THE FOLLOWING IN 2008:

- Assisted 3,806 boys and girls with our program, “Goals for a Better Life” in Bogotá (Ciudad Bolivar), Puerto Tejada, Cartagena, Sincelejo, Barbosa and Medellin.

- Ensured the enrollment in school of 329 boys and girls that participate in Goals for a Better Life through our Sponsorship Plan.

- Graduation of 29 youngsters from high school.

- Helped 9 youngsters enroll in various universities with scholarships.

- Expanded the coverage of our Music and Dance programs to benefit 616 children in Puerto Tejada, Medellin, Cartagena and Barbosa.

- Implement school reinforcement as an integral part of “Goals for a Better Life” in all cities.

- Assisted 1,485 families via formative educational workshops and meetings as tools of social development.

- Strengthened essential values through 127 talks and workshops for the integral development of children and youngsters.

- Gave150, 806 meals to the boys and girls enrolled in our programs.

- Provided Rehabilitation to 5 boys and girls who were victims of land mine explosions by providing prosthesis, physical and psychological rehabilitation, medical treatment, as well as transportation for them and a legal guardian. 6 more children returned to Bogotá to receive maintenance and a change of prosthesis.

COLOMBIANITOS, AN ORGANIZATION YOU CAN TRUST

EXPENDITURES BASED ON TOTAL INCOME FROM JANUARY TO DECEMBER 2008

Financial Audit: Colombianitos and its programs are audited externally by Contaudi Asesores (Colombia). The firm Forrestal, Galeano and Li manages their accounting in the United States.

NEWS

A recent survey performed by SAD – Swiss Academy for Development to trainers and parents of children that benefit from the Goals for a Better Life Program of COLOMBIANITOS, demonstrate that football IS a real tool to promote peace among children at risk.
	On November 2008, professionals from SAD – Swiss Academy for Development – www.sad.ch, made a survey to trainers and some parents of the children that attend the sport training sessions and other educational and recreational activities of Colombianitos’ program in Puerto Tejada. More information

We have the goal of duplicating the number of boys and girls that participate in the Sponsorship Plan on 2009. Become the Sponsor of a Colombianito today!
	Help us achieve our goal of duplicating the number of sponsored children, from 300 to 600 in 2009. The COLOMBIANITOS Sponsorship Plan creates a link between the sponsors and children of our programs that cannot cover the costs of uniforms, school supplies and other school recreation and extracurricular activities. Become the Sponsor of a Colombianito today!

More news about Colombianitos

Highlights of Colombianitos programs

To get more information on COLOMBIANITOS and its programs please visit – www.colombianitos.org