Colombia

You are here: Our projects > Where we work > Colombia

In Colombia, Handicap International provides support to the REI foundation, an NGO situated in Cartagena which works to prevent disability, achieve full rehabilitation and socio-professional integration of disabled people.

CONTEXT
Colombia is a country of significant natural resources, and has a diverse culture reflecting the indigenous Indian, Spanish and African origins of its people. But it has also been ravaged by a decades-long violent conflict, involving guerrilla insurgencies, drug cartels and gross violations of human rights.

BACKGROUND
1986-1987: Training technicians to produce artificial limbs for victims of the Armero earthquake (25,000 victims) in Ibagué.
1992: Training technicians to produce artificial limbs at the REI Foundation in Cartagena.
1993: Financial support to the REI Foundation to support the work of the orthopedic workshop
1999: Support for the rehabilitation of people who were victims of the earthquake in Armenia
2000-2003 : Development of a programme of Community-Based Rehabilitation in Cartagena.
1997-2004: Structural support for the REI Foundation, financial, technical and administrative support for an orthopedic workshop.

ACTIVITIES

1) The REI Foundation's orthopedic workshop
Handicap International supports the orthopedic workshop by providing organisational and management advice.

2) Community-based rehabilitation
This project runs within 12 neighbourhoods in Cartagena and includes a training section for disability prevention and detection aimed at local agents, community mothers, parents and people with disabilities. It also consists of a home therapy section within the communities themselves. 

BENEFICIARIES
There are about 1000 immediate beneficiaries of the actions of Handicap International in Colombia under the Community Based Rehabilitation programme. As for the personnel of the REI Foundation, they consist of 45 integrated rehabilitation professionals.

RESOURCES
Handicap International team is made up of two national staff and one international staff.