Children Beyond Our Borders

Vision

Every child, regardless of social status, race or gender, deserves a proper education. Every child deserves to live a stable life without barriers and without fear. Every child deserves to dream – and to dream big. Every child deserves a brighter future – a future that breaks boundaries and goes beyond borders.

Mission

It is our mission to provide opportunities for children and youth affected by armed conflict and social injustice to find peace, prosperity and well-being through education and empowerment.

Issue

Conflict puts society’s most vulnerable children at terrible risk of sexual exploitation, child labor, and recruitment in illicit groups. Without intervention, children can be denied access to good, safe schools or alternative forms of education - the means to rewrite their futures.

History of the Conflict

Colombia's armed conflict is the longest-running conflict in the Americas and has grown increasingly savage. In 2002 alone, an estimated 5,000 to 6,000 civilians were killed in fighting, targeted in political assassinations or "disappeared." It involves multiple sides each with its separate agenda, the most prominent actors include the guerrilla movement, which formalized itself as the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). Opposing the FARC efforts, rural landowners hired private self-defense armies to protect themselves and their resources. In the 1980s, with increasing support from drug traffickers and the government, these private armies gained strength and became paramilitary groups used for combating the guerrillas.

Service Trips

Bound for Peace is a service trip that sends volunteers to work with impoverished and at-risk youth in Colombia, Nicaragua, & Ecuador. We strive to raise awareness about the social conflicts in these areas, to provide educational tools for the children we work with, and to build lasting relationships with the kids in these communities.

Volunteers will be taken on an unforgettable adventure to become part of a movement that empowers children to pursue an education and break the cycle of violence and poverty in Colombia, Nicaragua, & Ecuador. Over 500 volunteers have traveled with Children Beyond Our borders in the past. We are looking for passionate, caring individuals who want to be fully immersed in a new, unique culture while helping children who, despite their hardships, live and love beautifully. We would love to have you join our amazing team!

OBJECTIVES

1.Education: Provide interactive workshops, centered on the importance of education, caring about yourself and others, and decision making skills. Serve as positive role models & empower our children to see their own potential. 2.Cultural Immersion: Experience a new culture & learn about the lives our children, and other Colombian, Nicaraguan, & Ecuadorian people, lead everyday. 3.Social Venture: Support our mission & growth! Experience first hand the love these children give despite their hardships. Bring this experience home to spread awareness of the social injustices.

Empowerment through English Initiative EEI

The Empowerment through English Initiative (EEI) was founded by the efforts of Fundación Colombia Somos Todos, a non-profit from Ibague, Colombia, and Children Beyond Our Borders, Inc, a Non-Profit in Orlando, FL. The idea of this collaboration is to find a candidate to work with the youth of Ibague.

Mentoring Program

E-mentors form relationships with students and assist in their career development, self-esteem building, character development, and financial independence via a social network, with which they will communicate weekly. Each mentor will serve their student with their support and guidance.

Vocational Program

The vocational education program focuses on foundational skill development through hands-on activities. It provides coursework focusing on entrepreneurship, technology, and professional skills. Nuevos Horizontes' vocational education program promotes learning through experience. CBOB's style of imparting learning is unique by designing activities that are appropriate to age groups and having the learners and educators engaging in the activities. Nuevos Horizontes believes that the experience gained through these activities are priceless and imparts its children the confidence and marketable skills that serve the local industries.

VIP

The Volunteer Intern Program allows individuals to get involved in an international non-profit organization through hands on experience. The VIP treats interns as employees, encouraging independence, originality, and a stress free environment. As an intern at Children Beyond Our Borders, you can help change the life of a child and also connect with hundreds of volunteers and former interns in governmental and non-governmental agencies all over the world. By participating in VIP, you can gain practical experience and apply your academic skills to a real-world job in the non-profit field. CBOB loves leaders who have the passion to fight for improvement and desire a better life for the internally displaced and at risk population. The overall goal of CBOB’s Volunteer Intern Program is to encourage and empower our interns by providing life skills that can prepare them for a successful future.