UNICEF Field Visit to Colombia with American Airlines

From June 22 to 27 of 2014 a total of 7 American Airlines Flight Attendant travelled to Colombia.  Four of us were chosen for this life changing event.  I became a Champion for Children volunteer when I learned what they did to my motherland when it was hit by devastation during Super Typhoon HAIYAN where an entire community was wipe out and children left with nothing.  It was a timely action to reached those kids.



REFLECTIONS  on UNICEF Field Visit to Colombia with American Airlines

June 22-27, 2014

By:  Carmi Daniels, AA Flight Attendant  

As part of the American Airlines Champions for Children volunteers we recently travelled to Colombia to visit the UNICEF Country Program , American Airlines Supported Water and HIV/AIDS projects.  This post shares some observations from the trip and general thoughts about the value of site visits .

The Project:

Environmental Protection School:

To recap,  the project consists of 18 school campuses in the rural zones of the municipalities of Santander de Quilichao and Buenos Aires in the Department of Cauca where  the overall objective is to generate sustainability for healthy environments in the areas of water, sanitation and environmental protection.

During the Field Visit we learned the Department of Cauca has the second  highest poverty levels in Colombia, 5th place with the level of inequality.  43% of population are ethnic group (indigenous or afro-descendants).  Each of the educational campuses there were no basic hygiene products like soap, toilet paper ,  insufficient toilet bowlsTaps and wash basins and even urinals are shared between boys and girls, There is no adequate system for the disposal of solid waste nor an educational program to educate and encourage the very simple practice of hand washing with soap and water.

UNICEF collaboration with the community, children, adolescents, parents, teachers, government and other local institutions  have improved environmental and sanitation infrastructures,  formulated and implemented hand washing strategies and established  integrated disaster risk management plans. 

Promotion of sexual and reproductive rights:  prevention of pregnancy and HIV among adolescents and young people:

The program aims to increase the opportunities of Colombian children and adolescents  especially the most disadvantaged and vulnerable which includes the internally displaced population affected by violence, those living in rural and poor areas and the indigenous and afro-descendants communities.

Based  on the information gathered,  Santander de Quilichao with a population of less than 100,000 residents faces the prevalence of infectocontagious diseases.  It was also identified as one of the municipalities with the greatest risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) due to sharing of syringes associated with drugs like heroin among young population aged 10 and 25.

During our visit,  we saw adolescents and young people from Santader de Quilichao increase their capacity for genuine participation in initiatives that are designed to prevent early pregnancies, transmission of HIV and consumption of psychoactive substances.

General Thoughts on the Value of our Field Visits

As a Champion for Children volunteer with  American Airlines,  the Field Visit impacted me in so many ways:

- It helped  me develop a fuller picture of the context of why we are collecting donations.

- It gave me a deeper appreciation of the tremendous work UNICEF does in research, collaborations and implementation that I did not understand from afar.

- The amount of time we spent with  the UNICEF staff, local authorities, other donors as well as all the unstructured times on the site, the long road trips, eating meals together built camaraderie, trust and strengthened our mission.  We asked questions on a personal level that we cannot do over the phone or by email.  Those times build relationships that will in the end solidify our common goal.

- The Field Visits is a reality check, extremely eye- opening and replaced my previous  assumptions.

- Lastly,  the emotional connection from  being among those children is a testimony to the work we all do and means  we cannot GIVE UP!   They showed us despite their conditions and no reason to go on they do  anyway.  They do not feel they belong and have been discriminated  against and carried the stigma even in their adolescent lives. They  choose to go on anyway.   Their families and neighbors die and they  live a life of poverty and struggle every day of their life, but they rise up anyway.   Despite those conditions they sincerely showed us their appreciation, they shared to us their meals, they showcased their artistic side, their innovations, their talents and skills and  gave their all to us.  We parted taking with us their dreams of a better tomorrow.

Been three days and I am back to my normal routine but the faces of those children remain in my vision. The poverty and way of life is beyond my comprehension.  I heard from one UNICEF staff what they have is luxury compared to Africa or other countries.  I came from the Philippines and I thought the poorest of the poor in my country was the worse.  Heart breaking as it is , I only hope that those in a position to give even a little of what they have will at least alleviate if not totally improve the life of these children.   I am proud of my own family that followed our legacy of GIVING even when it hurts our own pocket.  For that I am grateful and will never wish for a better family.    

To JD, JR, Vlad, Vic, Mark, Beejay, Calie, Matet, Butch  .... continue to share your blessings to those that are less fortunate than us.  Find in your heart to always be a cheerful giver.  Giving does not always constitute material things.  I learned on this trip how the community come together, how parents binded and how those small kids contributed to better their lives and those of their neighbors and community at large by simply giving their time, talent, skills and loving LIFE and being thankful what little is given to them.