Loaves & Fishes Offering Me Ama “ He Loves Me” After School Program for Venezuelan Refugee Children

By Rev. Dr. Milton L. Ortiz

According to UNICEF, refugee children are often more vulnerable to child protection risks and violations including separation from their families, neglect, violence and abuse, psychological disorders and distress, isolation, discrimination, and economic exploitation, including trafficking and child marriage.

The Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Armenia, Colombia, has had since 2019, an after-school program for refugee kids from Venezuela. “He Loves Me,” is the name of the project, and the goal has been to help children achieve academic and long-term life success.

The program has also served children by providing support in deworming, offering vitamin supplements for the low weight of some, and providing dental support, and medical care. Also, the program provides school packs at the beginning of the year and school shoes twice a year. The children have made trips to parks, to celebrate special dates, such as Children’s Day and Christmas, which always includes dinner and gifts for the children of the program and their younger siblings.

Harley Rotbart, MD, a nationally renowned parenting expert, said that “Years of research in child development have identified eight essential requirements for kids to become happy, successful adults: security, stability, consistency, emotional support, love, education, positive role models, and structure.” This is what the “He Loves Me” program has tried to provide to these children.

Security

With their fundamental requirements for a home, food, clothing, healthcare, and protection from harm addressed, children feel secure and protected.

Stability

Family and community are the sources of stability. When a family cannot stay together and maintain a stable home, it is crucial to cause the least disruption possible to the child’s life. More prominent groups could be a part of their lives to provide children and families with a sense of community, tradition, and cultural continuity.

Consistency

Parents can coordinate their parenting and make sure strong values remain constant. There should be no “good cop, bad cop” mentality.

Emotional support

Parents can model trust, respect, selfworth, and independence for their children through their words and deeds.

Love

Almost all “mistakes” parents make can be fixed by expressing and demonstrating love for children. Show kids that they are loved and will always be loved, even when they disobey, are enraged, frustrated, or rebel.

Education

Children must receive the best education possible for their future. This includes the priceless life teachings provided while they are together with adults.

Positive role models

The primary and most significant role models for children are their parents. Being the person, parents want their children to become will instill values and teach them empathy.

Structure

Without them, children are forced to become adults before they are ready, which diminishes their respect for their parents and other adults.