Background
Colombia
Colombia is situated in the north west corner of the South American continent with an estimated population of some 37,000,000 and is considered to be one of the more developed countries in this part of the world.
However in its large capital Bogot�, where a great percentage of its population live, more than 50% of its children don't have sufficient food to eat a mere one meal a day. common illnesses go unchecked due to lack of medicines and outside the private sector education education for many children does not exist. As with many South American countries, children have to beg on the streets to be able to eat and many will start on this daily routine as early as the age of 3 years old.
F.A.S.A.C.
FASAC was set up here in Bogot� about seven years ago by a small group of teachers working in the Anglo Colombiano school and its aim was to collect money in order to help feed, clothe and educate young children. Today FASAC is a legally registered charity and through the organization various yearly events and a great deal of help from parents of the school it raises money and at present cares for some 600 extremely underprivileged children here in Bogot�. In recent years FASAC has started a sponsor a child scheme which helps care for these children from the age of six months to about 12 years. they are given sufficient food necessary for a balanced diet, clothing and free education from preschool to the end of primary. this is however the tip of the iceberg and there is so much more to be done. With more funds these kinds of programmes could easily be extended to help even more children, FASAC would like to develop secondary education and create workshops to teach street children skills with which they could obtain jobs and fend for themselves. All this however can only be possible if people care and want to help us in our cause.
Although some government help is available it is still a long way from what is needed and children will still continue to die. Poor parents will normally work 16 hours a day just to provide shelter.
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