Preventing Child Recruitment in Putumayo

Gran Tierra Energy, the FC Barcelona Foundation, Colombia’s Agency for Reincorporation and Normalization (ARN) and the World Vision International Foundation, continue their strategic alliance to increase resilience in vulnerable children and reduce their susceptibility to two important Human Rights concerns in the area: substance abuse and militia recruitment.

Financed by GTE, the program is implemented by the Youth Violence Prevention Program of the Barça Foundation and uses football as a unifying tool for children from vulnerable populations, children living in poverty and descendants of Afro-Indigenous minorities to learn about conflict resolution, prosocial behaviour development and other important life skills. Expected long-term outcomes include stronger, more stable communities, greater education attainment, increased employment and positive health indicators.

According to the Colombian Family Welfare Institute (ICBF), the project has been effective in preventing forced recruitment of minors, having documented multiple cases of preventions in program participants. To date, the Preventing Child Recruitment Program directly prevented eight cases of forced recruitment and intervened in multiple cases of intrafamily violence, ensuring at-risk children receive protection and care. The project also helps female victims of sexual and physical violence with psychiatric, emotional and legal support.

In 2024, the project Preventing Child Recruitment program exceeded the initially established expectations by over 150%.  This extended agreement has benefitted over 2,300 youth, as well as their families. As a result, 5,000 people in the area were positively impacted from this program.

“The kids love the program — they’ve become less aggressive and more nurturing, and I’ve seen improvements in their handling of interpersonal conflicts. And the kids can use the skills they’re learning in this program in other parts of their lives.”

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reduction in school dropout rates

Teachers who participated in the program reported a 47% reduction rate in school dropouts

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KIDS AGED 6-17

~5,000 children benefit from the Child Recruitment Prevention program, including children living in poverty & descendants of Afro-Indigenous minorities

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prevention cases

8 cases of forced recruitment were prevented to date

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