Fundacion Alma Inc

Fundación ALMA’s programs in Colombia are based on our values of tolerance, creativity, development, and perseverance, and serve disadvantaged children affected by the country's armed conflict and pervasive violence.

The ALMA Colombia model involves local partnerships with two forms of institution: NGOs who already provide educational and other programs to disadvantaged children and do not have the resources to provide them with music or other artistic activities; and private schools who possess the facilities and other infrastructure necessary to provide such programs. ALMA works with these entities to provide the children from the local NGO with music and artistic activities in the facilities of the private school. ALMA provides organisational and financial support for a period of four years, at the same time planting the seeds necessary for the two institutions to continue the programs independently at the end of that period. The goal is to use existing resources from the two local organisations to create sustainable programs that further ALMA's mission of strengthening communities and promoting peace through music and arts education.

The children we work with live in situations that put them at risk of passing the time in ways that could be detrimental to their development. Our programs take place on Saturdays during the semester, and for four weeks during vacation, providing a safe and creative activity during spare time. Most importantly, our programs give the children an outlet that will encourage them to express themselves and become productive citizens of their communities. One of the following four topics is covered in each of four programs per year: Sustainability; Peace; Diversity in Colombia; and Global Diversity. At this time, our partner NGO is Fundación Promoción Humana, and our partner private school is El Gimnasio Campestre.