Colombia

MLI in Colombia

MLI is registered as a Colombian non-profit organization. The MLI Colombia mission is to extend our vision to implement humanitarian and sustainable programs in Colombia, to help eradicate the scourge of landmines, and to promote the construction of peace and resolution of conflict.

Current Need: MLI will continue to support the Peacemakers and Problem Solvers (PMPS) program in Colombia this year to foster strong relationships between students in Colombia and the United States. MLI is also currently looking into establishing a mine detection dog partnership in Colombia. Landmines can cause injuries and death to ordinary people trying to rebuild their lives in post-conflict zones. Donate today to help us assist the people of Colombia and to keep them safe from mines and explosives!

Numerical Data

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Peacemakers and Problem Solvers (PMPS)

Through the PMPS program, MLI connects older students at a school in the municipality of Chigorodo, Colombia, and two schools in the municipality of Carepa with Poolesville High School, in Maryland and St. Edmunds Academy, in Delaware.

The PMPS students communicate via video calls on a bi-weekly basis to learn about each other and their respective communities, and to learn the PMPS leadership and peacebuilding-focused curriculum. Participating PMPS teachers learn and teach the PMPS curriculum in their own schools, including lessons on defining conflict, teamwork, perceptions, and communication, among other topics. Applying what they learn during the program, the students work with their international peers to identify a need unique to their communities and work together to implement service-learning projects to address the issue.

Community Members Benefitted by PMPS

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La Cadena School in Carepa, Colombia.

La Provincia School in Carepa, Colombia.

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Diocesano Laura Montoya School in Chigirodó, Colombia.

Poolesville High School in Maryland.

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Children Against Mines Program (CHAMPS)

Through the CHAMPS program, MLI connects younger students at Colombian Schools in Sede Principal, Sede Sabanas, and Urrao, Antioquia.

The CHAMPS students communicate via video calls to learn about each other and their respective communities, and to learn the CHAMPS landmine awareness-focused curriculum. The Colombian students interact with peers in Bosnia-Herzegovina, as well.

During its pilot year, CHAMPS Colombia connected 25 Colombian students and 4 teachers from four different rural schools, all part of the 'Valentina Figueroa Rueda' educational institution in Urrao, Antioquia, with 16 third-grade students and one teacher from the Spanish class at Glenelg Country School in Ellicott City, MD. The group successfully completed the CHAMPS landmine awareness and virtual exchange program in 2022-2023, bringing on new students for another successful program year in 2023-2024.

Our newest program, MLI is excited to see how CHAMPS Colombia grows into the future as we bring in new schools and introduce landmine survivors and mine action into the curriculm.