Fundación Futuros Valores de Barranquilla (FFutVal)

FFutVal was founded in 1989 in Barranquilla, Colombia’s fourth largest city and its most important port. Several individuals went downtown to share Christmas dinner with street kids, and the experience pained them so much that they decided to dedicate their lives to the problem. They began by attempting to raise money from the upper classes, but the rich only made promises, and never committed themselves.

Without outside help, these people, led by Guillermo Sierra, continued to do outreach work, and their efforts have now created a large NGO. FFutVal now serves some 70 girls and boys in shelters and more on the street, working closely with the local Juvenile Police and the ICBF (Children’s Services Department). You can read the Official History of the program (in Spanish) by clicking here.

In contrast with many large Colombian cities, there are not huge numbers of street kids in Medellín -- perhaps 100 (in Bogotá there are at least 5000, in Medellín perhaps 4000). In fact, many street kids in Barranquilla come from Medellín or Bogotá, and say that they have come to the coast to “see the ocean.” These “child travelers” are difficult to serve, because they seldom stay in one place long enough to get hooked up with real services.

Like many programs in Colombia, FFutVal has several stages. Children first go to a transitional home, then, when they are ready, move into a more permanent shelter.

FFutVal gets its funding from the ICBF, individual donors, and an annual golf tournament.

FFutVal now dreams of opening drop in centers in the neighborhoods that expel kids onto the street, knowing that prevention is more efficient than shelters. The program is also trying to write contracts with local businesses to provide work for recent graduates of the program. They would also like to raise the consciousness of the city at large, and to improve law enforcement against those to deal drugs to kids.

Fundación Futuros Valores de Barranquilla
ALBA STELLA VELEZ

Dirección: CARRERA 66 No. 58-02
Barranquilla
Colombia

Teléfonos: 3605515-3689705-3688139-3605516

futval@divvol.org
futval@metrotel.net.co

www.divvol.org/futval