In Colombia and other Latin American countries, girls’ 15th birthdays are traditionally celebrated with a big family party, as this age represents for many families the transition between childhood and adolescence, between being a girl and being a woman.

However, Fundación La Paz sees this age as a period full of challenges for many adolescent girls, especially those living in the most remote rural areas of Chocó, who have to live in a hostile environment with armed groups and for whom there are hardly any opportunities for education and access to information. Therefore, questions about their changing bodies, their sexuality, their basic rights as women and ethnic minorities or about adequate planning for the future remain unanswered and can lead to undesirable scenarios such as early pregnancies, dropping out of school, domestic violence, etc.

In this context, the project “Quinceanera empoderada” aims to accompany 240 adolescent girls in rural areas of Chocó on topics such as sexual and reproductive rights, self-esteem, life projects, leadership training, etc.  For a total period of one year. The work will be carried out together with the schools and the young students from the CASA HOGAR La Paz dormitory, who will work directly with the girls from the communities they come from: a double reinforcement of both groups.

At the end of the process, the participants can enjoy a party and celebrate together the achievement of their goals and their 15th birthday.

We are very pleased to be working with Fundación La Paz and the Canadian Embassy in Colombia on this project.