Partners of the LACT Programme

“The Andes Programme”.  The LACT Programme has been supporting CAFOD’s work to improve the lives of some of the most marginalised families, children and communities affected by poverty, violence, environmental degradation and conflict in the Andean countries since 2005.  The current phase continues to support vulnerable urban, rural and indigenous communities in Bolivia, Colombia and Peru, protecting the rights of children, communities and the environment, strengthening resilience to impacts from climate change and promoting more harmonious relationships with each other and the environment.  The following local partners of CAFOD are implementing the programme in the region: Warmi Huasi, DESCO (Centro de Estudios y Promoción de Desarrollo), CIDAP (Centro de Investigación, Documentación y Asesoría Poblacional), PDPMM (Programa de Desarrollo y Paz del Magdalena Medio), IIADI (Instituto de Investigación y Acción para el Desarrollo Integral) and CENDA (Centro de Comunicación y Desarrollo Andino).

Since 2018, The LACT Programme has been supporting Children Change Colombia’s efforts to defend the rights of some of the most at-risk children in the country, ensuring they can grow up in safety, free from violence, exploitation, and poverty.   

“Preventing sexual and gender-based violence in Bogotá, Barranquilla, Santa Marta and Cartagena in Colombia” : The current programme focuses on empowering children and young people at risk of sexual and gender-based violence in Bogotá, Barranquilla, Santa Marta, and Cartagena. Through this initiative, children, young people, and their communities will build the knowledge and skills needed to prevent violence and create protective environments.  The following local partner of Children Change Colombia is implementing the programme in Bogotá: ACJ (Asociación Cristiana de Jóvenes). 

Preventing the Recruitment and Use of Children by Criminal and Armed Groups in Colombia”: This programme seeks to prevent the forced recruitment and exploitation of children and young people (CYPs) and support those already affected through a multidimensional approach. It combines psychosocial support and reintegration for child victims, life skills and livelihood training for at-risk youth, and the strengthening of community-based protection mechanisms. Special attention is given to the evolving digital recruitment strategies, with initiatives focused on digital literacy, caregiver education, and awareness-raising campaigns. The following local partner of Children Change Colombia is implementing the programme in Bogotá: Fundación CRAN.

“Community project for the prevention of violence against children and adolescents in Ecuador”. Since 2005, Daniëlle Children’s Fund (DCF) has worked in Ecuador to strengthen childcare legislation and implement child protection programmes. The LACT Programme began support of the Community Project for the Prevention of Violence Against Children and Adolescents in Pifo, a three-year initiative launched in January 2024. The programme was co-created with over 100 community members, including children, adolescents, local leaders, professionals, and organisations. It aims to prevent the normalisation of violence in families, schools, and the broader community. Through this initiative, DCF promotes preventive and alternative care within local communities.

EMpower – The Emerging Markets Foundation Limited: “Empowering Marginalised Youth in Cali, Colombia”. Since 2025, the LACT programme is a proud supporter of this initiative that aims to empower marginalised young people (ages 14-18) in Cali, Colombia to improve their academic performance, life skills, and overall well-being. Empower implements this initiative through a partnership with Fundación Ser para Ser (SOROCA), established in 2017 with a mission to empower marginalised young people in their last three years of high school to improve their lives. They achieve this through high-quality education support, with a particular focus on developing core life skills.

“Partnering for Change Across Colombia”. This initiative has been part of the LACT Programme since 2020 and the next phase aims to achieve systemic change by influencing and working with local partners to model scalable reforms that ensure children can grow up in safe and loving families, not institutions. Lumos partners with a growing network of civil society organisations and service providers, many of which are transitioning from residential institutions into community-based family support services. With support from Lumos and the LACT Programme, partners Fundación Michín and Fundación Casa La Chinca have progressed in their transitions to provide services that prevent family separation and reintegrate children into family-based care alternatives. Lumos also supported Fundación Michín to identify, train and support foster families where reunification with biological kin is not possible.

“Promoting the health and rights of young people in Manabí, Ecuador”.  Plan’s work to improve adolescent sexual health education and rights in Ecuador has been part of the LACT Programme since 2016.  This next phase of the programme aims to reduce early and forced marriages, unwanted and unintended adolescent pregnancy and gender-based violence in fourteen rural communities in the province of Manabí.  The project’s strategy centres around the creation of youth clubs to bring together young women and men to learn about their sexual and reproductive health and rights, address harmful practices and other forms of gender-based violence, share their experiences and mobilise to advocate for their rights.

“Building for the future with young women in Bolivia”. Since 2021, the LACT Programme has supported Plan International’s efforts to empower young indigenous women in the Bolivian highlands. The current three-year phase focuses on promoting the social and economic empowerment of indigenous adolescents and young women in Betanzos. The programme strengthens entrepreneurial and feminist leadership skills while challenging cultural and social norms that limit their opportunities. By enhancing technical and entrepreneurial capabilities, it aims to expand access to economic opportunities. Participants are equipped with the tools needed to launch and sustain their own business ventures. The following local partner Plan Bolivia is implementing the programme:  PRODECO (Proyecto de desarrollo comunitario).

Practical Action is an international development organisation that works with communities to develop practical, sustainable solutions to poverty and climate challenges. Building on previous work in sustainable tourism, our current project “Amazonian Youth Bioeconomy Schools & Labs”‘ aims to support young people to move beyond basic roles in family agriculture and become active participants in emerging bioeconomy value chains such as cocoa, coffee and Amazonian fruits. By doing so, it seeks to strengthen local livelihoods while reducing the need for youth to migrate in search of work.

“Improving inclusive education: promoting the rights of people with deafblindness and multiple disabilities in Peru and Ecuador”.  The LACT Programme has been supporting Sense International’s efforts to strengthen inclusive education in underserved regions of Peru since 2015. The programme focuses on enhancing the skills of professionals in both special and mainstream education settings. Sense International Peru works closely with the Ministry of Education and regional authorities to remove barriers to education for children with deafblindness and multiple disabilities. Recently, they signed an agreement with Fundación Hermano Miguel, which will serve as the local partner for project implementation in Ecuador.

“Providing support to Enseña por Colombia, Enseña Ecuador, Enseña por Bolivia and the Teach for All global organisation’s partner support”.  The LACT Programme is providing support to Teach for All’s mission to expand educational opportunities for children in the Latin America region.  The core programme includes recruiting and supporting young local graduates who will spend at least two years teaching in marginalised communities.  In addition to local knowledge sharing, the contribution to public policy discussions helps the development of effective teaching and learning over the wider region’s education ecosystem.

“Resilient Futures: Artistic Interventions and Psychosocial Healing for Children Affected by Conflict” is a War Child initiative supported by the LACT Programme since 2025. The project aims to strengthen social cohesion and build local and institutional capacity to better support children and adolescents impacted by conflict in Mocoa, Putumayo, Colombia. 

Working in partnership with Makikuna, a local organisation, War Child combines three complementary approaches: 

1. Culturally responsive, family- and community-based interventions that foster social connection, positive coping strategies, cultural identity, and mental health awareness. 
2. Evidence-based mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) at the community and family levels. 
3. Systems strengthening through the capacity development of key stakeholders, and improved collaboration between government, civil society, and youth-led community initiatives focused on mental health. 

Together, these efforts will promote healing, resilience, and lasting change for children and families affected by conflict in Mocoa and the wider Putumayo region.

“Youth Green: Ensuring sustainable futures for young people in Ecuador”. Since 2010, the LACT Programme has been supporting World Vision’s work to help the most vulnerable children overcome poverty in the Andes. The current programme focuses on empowering Ecuadorian youth in the Napo region by promoting sustainable economic inclusion and environmental management. The initiative aims to enhance psychosocial well-being, develop entrepreneurial skills, and increase youth participation in sustainable business activities. By equipping young people with the tools to build economic resilience and environmental awareness, the programme fosters long-term opportunities for growth and sustainability within their communities.