About the Cauca-Valle community
In Colombia’s Cauca-Valle region, families are navigating two crises at once: climate shocks and armed conflict. Heavy rains flood homes and farmland, cutting off the roads that families rely on to access food or go to work and school. At the same time, clashes between armed groups and government forces make it dangerous to move freely.
When either crisis escalates, daily life grinds to a halt. Schools close. Markets shut down. Health care becomes unreachable.
And in every disruption, children – especially girls – are the first to lose ground. Missed school increases the risk of early marriage. Hunger pushes boys toward armed groups. Without support, these moments of crisis can shape a child’s entire future.
Our long-term partnership builds trust
Plan has been present in Cauca-Valle since 1993 – long enough to know how quickly a road can disappear under water or how suddenly fighting can close a familiar route. In moments when outside organizations can’t safely reach the community, trust in local leadership is what keeps the work alive.
Every initiative supported through Community Partnership with Girls is designed and delivered by people who call this region home. So when storms rise or conflict intensifies, programs don’t stop. Children continue learning. Families continue receiving support. Stability holds, even when access may be impossible.
Challenges facing the Cauca-Valle community
When conflict flares or floods hit, Cauca-Valle families lose more than homes and crops. Daily routines fall apart – and children feel it first.
Staying in school isn’t guaranteed
For many girls, getting to school already means long walks along rural roads. When heavy rains wash out bridges or fighting breaks out nearby, that walk becomes unsafe, or impossible. Days of missed classes turn into weeks. Many children are now up to two years behind in basic reading, math, and science – gaps that are most harmful for younger students, who need steady early learning to stay on track.
Safety concerns shape daily life
During periods of violence, even simple errands like buying food or checking on relatives can be risky. When conflict disrupts work and food is scarce, families face painful choices. Some children take on work to help their families. Girls may face increased pressure to marry early. Boys are more at risk of being recruited by armed groups, especially when these groups target families who are struggling to survive.
Health starts with basic services
For many girls in Cauca-Valle, staying in school depends on whether the school has clean water and a private toilet they can use during their period. When those basics aren’t available, it’s hard for them to go to school. Missing a few days can quickly turn into falling behind – and in some cases, dropping out altogether.
What your support helps make possible
Community Partnership with Girls supports locally led solutions that help children stay in school and stay safe, even when daily life is chaotic.
Education that opens doors
When schools close due to flooding or travel isn’t safe, children can join reading clubs that are held close to home. Here, they practise reading, writing, and math with local teams. Community volunteers often walk with children so they can get to the clubs safely and regularly.
Emergency food support
When families are struggling to put food on the table, immediate support helps them through the worst disruptions. This makes it easier for children to stay in school and be safe. Last year, more than 1,900 food kits reached families in Cauca-Valle.
Healthier communities, better futures
When schools have what girls need, staying in class becomes possible. Community Partnership with Girls projects help ensure schools have clean water, safe toilets, and supplies girls need to manage their periods. To date, 12,000 hygiene kits have been distributed and 4,000 students have access to upgraded toilets.
Behind the scenes of Community Partnership with Girls
Behind the scenes of Community Partnership with Girls
Girls in Cauca-Valle are picking up their phones and cameras to tell the stories adults often overlook. Through a community-run mobile journalism effort, they learn how to film, record sound, and tell stories that show what it means to grow up as a girl in their region.
In an upcoming video from Cauca-Valle and nearby Cartagena, girls talk about early marriage, teenage pregnancy, lost school days, and the expectations that press in long before they’re old enough to choose their own direction.
Last year, Canadian journalist and Plan International Celebrated Ambassador Lisa LaFlamme met with some of these young storytellers – girls using their skills to push for change, including stronger protections against child marriage.
Child marriage doesn’t just end a girl’s childhood. It replaces possibility with obligation. It’s a global injustice that we just cannot ignore" —Lisa LaFlamme
Strong girls build stronger communities
Help girls and boys in Cauca-Valle stay in school, stay safe, and move toward a more equal future. Be part of what makes that possible today. /p>
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