PODER JÓVEN

ORGANIZATION

The annual social balance gives an account of the institutional profits obtained during the last year, on both an internal level, as well as, the social projection. Next, we present the internal actions taken to improve our mission. First, our change from an "Association" to a "Foundation"; the latter better reflects our social orientation. Secondly, in an attempt to strengthen our internal structure the administrative activities of the Foundation have been conducted in an independent office since April of this year. Since the year 2004 these centralizing activities had been carried out in the Recycling Center of the Foundation, and although a space was adapted there to coordinate all the administrative activities during last the 4 years, that space was no longer functional for that purpose.

Thanks to the institutional agreements that Poder Joven has made as part of its social work, the Foundation took part in 2 international projects. In July 2007 we were visited by a group of 12 young members of the Dutch organization HIP' 92. Through this Project of Cultural Exchange they had the opportunity to accompany us in our social labors during 3 weeks. During 3 weeks in December, 10 members of Poder Joven traveled to Holland and got to know their culture and also participated in several social programs that are being developed there. In November of 2007 we participated in the Regional Encounter (GFC) at Cusco (Peru). Over 4 days personnel from 15 organizations from South America, all beneficiaries of the Global Fund for Children (GFC), shared experiences and received training in topics of social interest.

On June of 2008 we began a Process of Institutional Fortification with the advice and aid of Global Fund for Children. Poder Joven was one of the 5 institutions selected among a group of 15 South American organizations that applied for admission to the program. The objective is to increase the institutional capacity of the participant organizations. Among other activities, the process contemplates: personalized visits of the professional in charge of consulting, design of tools to elaborate social projects, and exchange of experiences with other organizations of South America in subjects related to institutional growth.

During the year 2008 we developed a new project, and at the moment are looking for financing. The project is related to the set up of a shop for repair and maintenance of motorcycles, which will address two institutional prerogatives. On one hand is the generation of financial resources to increase the capacity of institutional self-sustenance of Poder Joven. On the other hand, this project will also contribute to the educative processes of Poder Joven, which aims to assist the process of formation of its beneficiaries, from age 3 through adolescence.

ADEVELOPED ACTIVITIES

"Casa Karah" Program

This program is characterized by its high turnover rate. During the year we received 73 children, out of which 45% withdrew before the end of their first year at the institution. Considering the extreme social circumstances of this sector, it is of the utmost importance that the program adapts to these conditions, and that strategies are designed to have the greatest possible impact in spite of the instability of the beneficiary children.

A team of professionals formed by two child educators, a psychologist, and a social worker, designed and executed 3 educative projects over the year: sexuality and self-esteem, prevention of the consumption of psychoactive substances, and coexistence values. In addition, support was offered to the beneficiary families in the area of human rights, and work was made to restore rights in health, education, responsible paternity, and the right to a worthy life.

"Casa Maren" Program

At Maren House, the stability level reached 87%. A total of 83 boys and girls attended.

At this program, our team of professionals developed projects of coexistence and resolution of conflicts. Additionally, the “Basic Processes” program continues giving academic support to 25 children, 9 years and older, with the goal of bringing them up to grade level and facilitating their entrance into the ordinary school system.

Some numbers...

Service	Casa Karah	Casa Maren
Processing of documents of identification: birth certificates, SISBEN cards, and identification cards	30	28
Medical and odontological treatments	9	12
Daily number of meals served	80	100
Registration to attent school	37	34
Specialized Psychological treatments for child victims of sexual abuse	2	3
Two physical education clases per week	35
One Music class per week	28

Impact Evalution*

Description	Index
Description	Casa Karah*	Casa Maren**
Number of children enrolled at school vs. children satisfactorily finishing the school year	63%	82%
Number of children showing some degree of difficulty to relate to others at the moment of entering the program vs. the number of children obtaining acceptable grades after a year in the program	78%	88%
Number of families underperforming in their capacity to offer good relations to their children at the moment of entering the program vs. the number of families performing well after a year of being in the program	21%	52%
Number of children sent to other institutions vs. the number of children performing satisfactorily at their new institutions after a year	37%	83%

General index of malnutrition at the beginning of the year vs. Index of malnutrition at the end of the year:

Classification	NNo. Of Cases per Year		No. Of malnourished children with symptoms of recuperation at the end of the year
Classification
	CK	CM	CK	CM
Slight	19	28	9	14
Moderate	12	17	7	10
Severe	3	2	1	1

* Statistics apply to 55% of the children attending the program, the percentage is considered as stable, since it considers children remaining at least for a year in the program.

Program of awareness in the streets

During 2007, 236 tours were made on the streets of Medellín, where 673 youngsters were motivated to attend the Welcome Center, an institution that is in charge of offering protection and a complete process of rehabilitation. Initially, 6 children from the streets received individualized support with the aim of transforming their lives and abandoning the streets; two of them completely recovered. One of the children lives with his family and the other rents his own room. Currently, both of them study, work and enjoy a dignifying life.

Recycling Center

During the year 2007, 288,960 tons of recycling material were collected and processed. This number translates into saving approximately 520 trees, the recycling of 173,376 tons of metals, which represents a 90% savings in the energy invested in the production of new pieces, and 208,051 tons of saved raw materials. During the year the recycling center generated $33,700,000 equivalent to USD$19,257. This income was meant to cover the administrative expenses of the Foundation.

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