Does anyone know of a good charity that helps gamines?

ColombianoGringo says on May 28, 2008, 18:48:

bump

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Atrevido says on May 28, 2008, 19:02:

I know Colombians who have performed "obras sociales" but the giving of actual money with no return benifit is from what I´ve seen pretty much unheard of in Colombia so any charity organizations that expect to receive cash money donations would likely be foreign based.

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viajero123 says on May 28, 2008, 19:31:

Of course many people and companies donate cash to non-profit organisations in Colombia. I am involved with this organisation called Fundacion Manos por Colombia (www.manosporcolombia.org) that sponsors the education of kids from Ciudad Bolivar in Bogota. It is mainly funded with cash donated by Colombian individuals (without any return benefit other than the satisfaction of helping others), and I know of many other similar organisations. Obviously there are people who donate their time, knowledge and in kind donations as well.

There is one organisation that works with street kids in several cities in Colombia, and it is very well-known, established and succesful. It is run by Salesian priests. The website is www.inspectoriasdbmedellin.org.co

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ColombianoGringo says on May 28, 2008, 19:52:

Thanks Viajero, Are you talking about Ciudad Don Bosco? I had mainly looked at places in Bogota so I guess I didn't remember this one. In fact, they are on ConexionColombia.com site, but it doesn't state that it is for street kids. They are listed under education and appear to have various programs.

BTW, for those that don't know, ConexionColombia.com is a site that brings together lots of Colombian charities. It is actually sponsored by VISA so it should be a pretty secure site. It allows you to donate to various charities and can also link you up with various foundations and charities that need volunteers.

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webmanco says on May 28, 2008, 21:23:

There used to be one called Benposta I had seem some places, some Instituto Colombiano de bienestar Familiara, houses with kids boys and girls children of street vendors or kids without father. I will find out more about gamines.

From 2000
http://www.elmundo.es/2000/11/18/ultima/18N0175.html

...A yo, déjenme queto y no me jodan má! ...

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Lchiwawa says on May 29, 2008, 00:26:

i always thought gamines meant thugs

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romy says on May 29, 2008, 01:25:

'gamines' is not a good word to be using for these purposes. But i understand you are trying to help...it's just very brash.

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mariacvetanoski says on May 29, 2008, 04:08:

cg- we have worked with an orphanage first hand for 14 years. they are called associacion corazon, esperanza y amor and they are legit in bogota, the person to contact is mario and leslie breton, #310-293-1793 the address is Cra. 26#70-73 about 24-30 kids all boys... he would be HAPPY TO HEAR FROM YOU! GOD BLESS!

Save the street children of Colombia Now!!

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Atrevido says on May 29, 2008, 04:15:

Viajero123 I´m glad to hear it although it is unlikely any of the upper class Colombians I know are involved.

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mariacvetanoski says on May 29, 2008, 04:22:

actually, mario works for a chemical company there and his spouse works with sales. they are very well to do, but need more help with the children. God willing they can get the help they deserve... thanks...

Save the street children of Colombia Now!!

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webmanco says on May 29, 2008, 04:49:

I don´t see the word gamines used a lot nowdays, maybe because it sounds like as demeaning word, it is better now saying niños de la calle.

Like viejos is now tercera edad, aldultos mayores, instead of catanos, ancianos, cuchos.

There are many people who could use help, not just gamines de la calle, and thankfully there are many organizations, ong, fundatiosn willing to help. Help sometimes overlooked by other cities and colombians born in another cities who likes to critizice and not to help.

Bogotá helps and is the recipient of most desplazados

Mayo 29 de 2008

Llegaron a Bogotá 78 emberas del Chocó, desplazados por combates contra la guerrilla




Miembros de la etnia embera katío abandonaron Bagadó (Chocó), se trasladaron a Pereira y de ahí a la Terminal de la capital.

Los embera katío muestran la realidad de muchas comunidades indígenas colombianas: el grado de hambre que soportan por no tener tierras ni educación y ser víctimas del conflicto armado.

De los 78 indígenas solo 22 son adultos. Los 56 restantes son niños entre 1 mes y 17 años. A todos los menores, la desnutrición se les nota. Sigifredo señala con los dedos tener 11 años, pero parece de 8. Igual sucede con el resto.

A su llegada a la terminal se hicieron al lado de la oficina OIR Ciudadanía, entidad de las secretarías de Gobierno y de Integración Social del Distrito que apoya a la población en
desplazamiento.

Sentados sobre cartones, hombres, mujeres y niños miraban a la nada. Pero hicieron fila cuando un equipo médico del Hospital de Fontibón les puso el esquema de vacunas y fueron revisados. A siete los llevaron al centro médico por presentar problemas de parasitismo y alergias en la piel.

Sobre las 11 a.m. llegaron al terminal delegados de la Secretaría de Gobierno del Distrito, el Ministerio del Interior, la Personería Distrital y la Onic, hablaron con Alfonso Kuama Arce, el único que habla algo de español, e hicieron indagaciones.

A las 3 p.m., Nelson Linares, coordinador temático para la Atención de la Población Desplazada de la Secretaría de Gobierno, informó que la Personería había iniciado el censo de las familias (unas 20), así como las tomas de declaraciones de desplazamiento. "Ahora viene la ayuda de emergencia de Acción Social y se espera que los ubiquen en algún sitio muy pronto", dijo. Bienestar Familiar también se hizo presente.

...A yo, déjenme queto y no me jodan má! ...

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Monpirri says on May 29, 2008, 05:28:

ColombianoGringo, that's a nobel cause to help the needy children in Bogotá.
I have found couple of links that might help you in your quest, however if you do not feel comfortable with any of these organizations you can start your own charity from the states and it would be very easy for you to accomplish said project since you are familiar with local laws.
I am confident that many members from Poorbuthappy would like to support or join a familiar charity organization.

http://www.shinealight.org/spanish/Bosconia.html

"La ejecución de este Programa fue encomendado al Instituto Distrital para la Protección de la Niñez y la Juventud, IDIPRON. Hace parte de la Administración Municipal (el Distrito Especial de Bogotá), y cuenta con una larga, experiencia en la recuperación de niños de la calle (llamados popularmente “gamines" en Bogotá). Muchos de sus beneficiarios han crecido hacia la adolescencia y la adultez, sea en los casos fallidos y que continúan en la calle, o de los casos exitosos que requieren acompañamiento a la inserción laboral, IDIPRON ha ido incursionando en el trabajo con estas poblaciones. Una característica significativa de IDIPRON es que su trabajo ha logrado una larga continuidad, gracias al carisma de su director y a la simpatía de la sociedad, lo que le ha permitido consolidar una buena infraestructura técnica y una probada estrategia de intervención social."

http://www.ilo.org/public/spanish/employment/skills/hrdr/init/col_7.ht...

Annette Taddeo for US Congress 2008

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Cerealkiller says on May 29, 2008, 05:37:

CG this is one of the most prominent organizations helping homeless children
http://www.ninandes.org/

Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives -John Stuart Mill

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webmanco says on May 29, 2008, 05:40:

http://poorbuthappy.com/colombia/post/fundacin-colombianitos/

http://www.colombianitos.org/en/home.asp

...A yo, déjenme queto y no me jodan má! ...

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ColombianoGringo says on May 29, 2008, 07:50:

Thanks to all for your info. I will be looking into the various organizations you've listed.

I'm sorry if some are offended by the word "gamines. However, it is the term that I have always heard in Colombia when describing the street kids. It may not be a pretty word, but it is not a pretty issue.

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Mononoke28 says on May 29, 2008, 08:31:

That's the word we use as well, not in a demeaning way but that's just what they are in Colombia.

Diana

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Cerealkiller says on May 29, 2008, 11:39:

That's okay CG. You don't live in Colombia and eventhough the word is demeaning it used to be a very common term. Nowadays it'll probably get some looks, as most people now refer to them as "ninos de la calle" / ninos pidiendo limosna"... Political Correctness is alive and kicking in Colombia despite of what everyone here seems to believe.

Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives -John Stuart Mill

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Mononoke28 says on May 29, 2008, 12:54:

I really don't mean to contradict you but the word gamín is still widely used and you won't get a "bad" look from people.

Diana

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Cerealkiller says on May 29, 2008, 15:18:

Well Mononoke I don't know where you are at the moment, so perhaps you're right. But in bogota, if you say "gamin" when talking to someone you've just met, chances are you will not make a great impression.

Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives -John Stuart Mill

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kat1 (Moderator) says on May 29, 2008, 15:35:

that is pure PC.. i know lots of people who still use the word gamin and i have always know them as Gamines

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kat1 (Moderator) says on May 29, 2008, 15:38:

btw there was an organization or a guy in Colombia who used to help those kids, they have a house ouside bogota... can't remember the name

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romy says on May 29, 2008, 15:59:

different circles communicate with different words. I too know many people that would consider the word offensive and probably think less of you for using it. Though, it's true that the word is widely used.

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ColombianoGringo says on May 29, 2008, 16:01:

It's true that I might not use the word in mixed company, but a large part of my family and friends are Poblado and Northern Bogota snobs and they still use the word in familiar company.

I would find it pretty silly if some society snob had a problem with the word since most of those people could probably give a rat's ass about some poor gamin. A lot of wealthy Colombians simply view the poor as an inconvenient nuisance.

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kat1 (Moderator) says on May 29, 2008, 16:03:

not only the snobs, i hear many common people still using the word.
gamin is a homeless person, I don't know when the the word became derogatory,

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kat1 (Moderator) says on May 29, 2008, 16:04:

ñero ...es otra cosa and i find it offensive

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ColombianoGringo says on May 29, 2008, 16:05:

Well. I've heard people say "No sea gamin." when referring to someone behaving in an unbecoming manner. In that usage, it would be derogatory.

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kat1 (Moderator) says on May 29, 2008, 16:06:

Of course because gamin is an street person, a homeless person who didn't learn manners and just live by the street rules...

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romy says on May 29, 2008, 16:07:

I wouldn`t say it`s the rich per say though, I would say it`s the educated which are mutually exclusive categories.

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kat1 (Moderator) says on May 29, 2008, 16:08:

when you see lots of homeless teenagers in Colombia , people don't say look at all those Niños de la calle I bet many in Colombia said miren esos gamines o ayudemos a esos gamincitos

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kat1 (Moderator) says on May 29, 2008, 16:10:

of course on the TV they won't said ayudemos a los Gamines....

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ColombianoGringo says on May 29, 2008, 16:10:

Being rich and educated are mutually exclusive. That's news to me. Ha Ha.

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Cerealkiller says on May 29, 2008, 16:18:

Well I didn't mean to cause controversy, but amongst the people I know there are a bunch of words which are pretty much outlawed and "gamin" is surely one likely to raise some eyebrows. I am sure it has little to do with living in Poblado or Rosales and even less with the homeless themselves (I'm pretty certain they have a lot more to think about than words). I suppose it has more to do with sounding more cultured and less colorful...It must be a fad at Los Andes I guess...

Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives -John Stuart Mill

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romy says on May 29, 2008, 16:24:

CK- I certainly know the type... the `unpretentious` bunch that end up being much more pretentious than anyone else.

CG- that was a joke right?

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ColombianoGringo says on May 29, 2008, 16:24:

No worries CK. A friendly conversation about the acceptability of slang terms is certainly more interesting than most of the mindless "debate" that goes on around here.

BTW, Are you teaching at Los Andes? I though you lived in the UK.

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ColombianoGringo says on May 29, 2008, 16:27:

It was a light hearted comment, but how would being rich and educated necessarily be mutually exclusive? That would imply that a person couldn't be both rich and educated. Granted, I know a fair amount of rich people who are far from educated.

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romy says on May 29, 2008, 16:31:

Ok, maybe I didn't express myself right. Being rich and being educated are not directly related, is what I meant to say.

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ColombianoGringo says on May 29, 2008, 16:36:

Ah. I have to agree with that. I know many rich people with zero manners and culture regardless of their formal education.

For that matter, I know a few that are rich as hell with nothing more than a grade school education. However, most of those are in the US. Most family and friends in Colombia are obsessed with formal education. You can't swing the proverbial dead cat without hitting a lawyer.

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webmanco says on May 29, 2008, 19:28:

from gamín to ñero there is not much difference I got not problem using the word gamín to describe "not niños de la calle" but men/women behaving badly. Was Dennis the Menace a gamín? wasa cusumbo a gamín? was El Chinche a gamín?

...A yo, déjenme queto y no me jodan má! ...

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Cerealkiller says on May 30, 2008, 00:46:

No CG I do not teach. But 90% of my friends in Colombia teach or study at Los Andes.

Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives -John Stuart Mill

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kmccook says on Jul 18, 2008, 11:09:

here is another organization that helps the poor street kids.
http://street-children.org.uk/colombia.htm

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