CHILDREN'S DAY

A magician, clowns, puppets, Kellogg’s “Tony the Tiger”, and Cartoon Network’s Scooby Doo helped celebrate “Children’s Day” with our Colombianitos on the soccer field.

550 kids spent a fun afternoon with volunteers and sponsors who distributed snacks and lunches, and shared with these children special activities to motivate and to award them for their participation in our training sessions and to provide entertainment.

KELLY CRUZ IS WALKING AGAIN

Thanks to our supporters, Kelly Cruz who was seriously injured and lost one of her legs during a terrorist attack near the Presidential Palace last August, is walking again.

For 7 months Colombianitos sponsored and accompanied Kelly, providing her with her prothesis, and psychological and medical support. Her immense courage and strength and desire to play again in the park with her little daughter, Tania, have helped her in her total rehabilitation.

DONATION FOR COLOMBIANITOS

On February 8th once again our “Ilimani” soccer field in Ciudad Bolivar was celebrating, and this time it was on the occasion of the distribution of donated soccer uniforms thanks to the generous donations received from Atlanta.

During several months, the children of Metro North Soccer Club in Atlanta, collected donations of uniforms and sport accessories. With their contributions, Colombianitos is now better equipped for the soccer club that is in operation, as a great help for these very poor children.

Nearly 1,000 articles such as soccer balls, cletes, uniforms and other soccer accessories were transported from USA to Colombia by XL World Wide.

The children’s dream of having a full soccer uniform was fulfilled on that unforgettable day and the children and their families were very excited and appreciative to be a part of the Colombianitos soccer club.

COLOMBIANITOS ART SHOW

We organized our first Art SHOW throughout different elementary schools in the Paraiso district in “Ciudad Bolivar”.

Each child was given an opportunity to show their creativity and we received nearly 400 drawings with messages of peace, hope and faith. It was so successful that we will make this an annual event and we will include all the Colombianitos of “Ciudad Bolivar”.

Camilo Nieto,14, and Yenny Garzon, 13, were the winners this year. They each received a bicycle for their creativity, donated by StudioCom Bogota and Alamo, Insurance Advisors.

FIRST ALL-FEMALE SOCCER CUP

Our first all-girls soccer cup was held with 10 different teams, where girls between the ages of 7 and 15 were able to show their talent and ball handling skills. Their was great emotion and enthusiasm on our Ilimaní soccer field and after several days of intense playing, the girls made it to the final game. Our awards ceremony praised the sportsmanship of all the girls that participated and medals were given out to the best team, the winners of our first female champioship.

COLOMBIANITOS SOCCER CLUB CONTINUES TO GROW

Colombianitos is looking for support to build a large sports facility in Ciudad Bolivar, where we currently have in place the Colombianitos Soccer Club. The program provides the children of this very impoverished area with soccer training by professional coaches. The objective of this program is to promote education through recreational activities that will motivate and impulse this segment of the population by developing athletes, motivated students and good citizens of tomorrow.

The sports school enjoys great acceptance in the community. Currently 580 children are participating, taking advantage of the training and other related activities that are provided, making this a great community activity that revolves around the children.